U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stops for a picture with supporters after a campaign stop in West Columbia, South Carolina July 23, 2015. (Photo: Chris Keane/Reuters)
Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton has personally directed her presidential campaign to make a major push to secure support among the African-American community.
Yahoo News has obtained a copy of a memo that was sent by top Clinton aides to key supporters on Tuesday that detailed her strategy for African-American outreach. It included details on her organizing in key primary states, the messages Clinton’s team will highlight for black voters, and plans to put some serious star power behind the effort.
Clinton’s African-American outreach push is likely an acknowledgement of how crucial the bloc could be for her 2016 chances.
President Obama’s victories in 2008 and 2012 were aided by high turnout of over 65 percent of African-American voters, who are a core part of the Democratic base. Black turnout was, on average, 8.8 percent higher in the two presidential elections featuring Obama than it was in the prior three races.
A key question surrounding Clinton’s candidacy is whether she can come close to the success that Obama, the first African-American president, had with the community. In an analysis published in July, the Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter and David Wasserman described this question as a likely “key to 2016.″ They noted, “A return to pre-2008 African-American turnout levels wouldn’t necessarily doom a Hillary Clinton candidacy, but it would leave her with a whole lot less margin for error in a host of swing states.”
“Deconstructing exit poll data from 2012, African-American voters accounted for Obama’s entire margin of victory in seven states: Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Without these states’ 112 electoral votes, Obama would have lost decisively,”Walter and Wasserman wrote, adding, “African-Americans also accounted for almost all of Obama’s margin in Wisconsin. All of these states, except Maryland, will be crucial 2016 battlegrounds.”
While Clinton enjoys high favorability ratings with black voters, there is good reason for her to put in extra effort. During her 2008 primary bid, Clinton’s husband, former-President Bill Clinton, launched a series of attacks on Obama that were widely criticized in the African-American community.
African-American outreach will clearly be crucial for Clinton if she secures the Democratic nomination. It also could be a major asset for her in the primary. A lack of black support has been a glaring vulnerability for Clinton’s top rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Based on the memo, Clinton’s plan to win the African-American vote is two-pronged. It includes an aggressive ground game and policies that the campaign believes are tailored to the community’s interests, including a commitment to address concerns about police violence. The memo, titled “The Importance of the African-American Vote,” suggested this plan to woo the community is a crucial part of Clinton’s overall election strategy. It described Clinton’s platform as “the most comprehensive agenda to help African American families get ahead and stay ahead.”
The memo was authored by a trio of top Clinton campaign staffers: her director of state campaigns and political engagement, Marlon Marshall; the campaign’s African American outreach director, LaDavia Drane; and senior policy adviser Maya Harris. It described Clinton as being “in a strong position to be successful in key states where the African American vote is critical to winning the primary and the general election.”
“At Hillary’s direction, our campaign has focused on working to earn the support of the entire community,” the memo said.
The memo noted the Clinton campaign has built “a volunteer base in Super Tuesday and March primary states.” It said they have focused on outreach in “places of worship, community centers,” on social media, and at “organizing events” held at a variety of locations “including at barber shops.” According to the memo, 1,100 of these events have taken place in South Carolina where the African-American community is expected to make up a majority of the primary electorate. Additionally, the memo noted Clinton will make personal appearances in states that are holding March primaries and at historically black colleges and universities.
