Democrats are increasing their electoral spending to appeal to voters of color as 2024 picks up steam and different polls show president Joe Biden losing support across most demographics.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced a $35 million investment to increase its level of engagement with Latino voters, as well as Blacks, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, according to a report by Axios.
The outlet added that the money will be mostly spent on research and polling, as well as paid media, organizing, voter education and protection and battling misinformation. It will include outreach in many different languages, including Spanish.
"The DCCC's significant, early investment and focused effort to persuade and mobilize people of color will help us win back the majority so we can continue to deliver for the American people," Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) said in a statement to Axios Latino.
The announcement comes a different surveys show Biden's decreasing support among the Latino electorate. A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll from late December showed Biden trailing Trump 39-34% with this demographic. The study highlights that in 2020 he had received 65% of the support, compared to Trump's 32%.
Another poll, from CNBC All-America, had Trump with a 5-point lead over current Biden in late December, becoming the first time the former President was ahead in such a poll over his likely competitor in next year's elections. The same poll from two months before had Biden with a 7-point lead.
Another salient data point from the study regarding this demographic, which is set to comprise 14% of the electorate in this year's elections, is the fact that 20% said they will back someone other than the two main contenders.
A similar proportion of Blacks and young voters gave the same answer. "A young voter or a person of color voting 'third party' is a vote away from President Biden, and a vote away from President Biden is a vote for Donald Trump," said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk's Political Research Center.
Another recent example from disillusionment with the candidates comes from a poll by the Florida International University (FIU), which showed that many Latinos are opting out of party affiliation altogether.
A majority of the voters doesn't want Trump nor Biden on the ballot this year, with 57% saying so for the former president and 45% for the current one. "Democrats have always taken Hispanics for granted, and now it's problematic because this survey tells you that they can't continue to do that," said Eduardo Gamarra, director of the Latino Public Opinion Forum at FIU.
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