Republicans and Democrats launch Black voter outreach events around the debate

ATLANTA — Ahead of the presidential debate, both Republicans and Democrats are using the attention around the high-profile matchup to further their Black voter outreach efforts, with a particular focus on Black men.

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign deployed several high-profile Black surrogates — Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Wesley Hunt of Texas, along with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson — here on Wednesday for a Black American Business Leader Roundtable.

The event, at Rocky’s Barbershop, a Black-owned business in Atlanta, featured several local business owners, all of whom are men.

After each surrogate touted Trump’s accomplishments for Black voters to an audience primarily of reporters, Trump himself called in, repeating his often-criticized claim that his felony convictions have boosted his support among Black Americans.

“Since that happened, the Black support, I think my representatives will tell you this, the Black support has gone through the roof,” Trump said. “I guess they equated to problems that they’ve had.”

The Biden campaign was quick to pounce on what it framed as Trump’s “doubling down” on a racist stereotype.

“This might come as news to Trump, but Black and Latino voters want nothing to do with his racist stereotypes, and they know better than to buy into his lazy, shameful attempts at ‘outreach,'” Biden campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said.

After the event, Rocky Jones, the venue’s owner, would not say whether either Trump or his Black surrogates’ message was convincing enough to get his support this November.

“I am looking into it. I just want to hear both sides of the story, then I’ll make my decision," Jones said. "I just want to do what’s right. I