Young black men a political prize for both sides

Although they are still expected to favor Biden by a wide majority, they have become an unexpected target for both sides in the closing stretch. The Trump campaign sees young Black men as a potential soft spot in Biden’s coalition, while Democrats are scrambling to keep them in the fold.

President Trump’s long history as a media figure has made him a familiar figure to many Black men, said Terrence K. Williams, a sometimes inflammatory comedian who is a longtime Trump supporter.

“People don’t realize that before President Trump became president, the Black community loved President Trump,” said Williams, who is Black. “You would hear his name in rap songs. He used to hang with 50 Cent and Puff Daddy and all these guys. Everybody wanted to be like President Trump, because he was a successful businessman.”

A Washington Post-ABC News poll in June found that 81 percent of Black men under 40 were expected to vote for Biden — a high number, but considerably lower than the 94 percent of younger Black women favoring him. And in 2016, exit polling showed that 13 percent of Black men supported Trump, compared to 4 percent of Black women.