This time Trump really does seem to be making Black voter inroads. Why?

Reports that Donald Trump has made surprising gains among Black voters have raised understandable alarm among my Democratic-leaning friends.

- Clarence 

And it's a small wonder. Despite anecdotal reports that Trump had made some inroads with Blacks in 2020, he won just 8% of the Black vote, according to Pew Research Center. That was the same share he won in 2016 against Hillary Clinton.

So it's quite something that polls show more than 20% of Black voters saying they will vote for Trump in 2024 in his rematch with President Joe Biden in states likely to determine who wins. The New York Times/Siena poll back in early November had Trump with 21% Black support, while Biden was the choice of 71% in six key battleground states. In early March, Trump's total rose to 23% while Biden's fell to 66% in those states Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Democrats reached out to Black voters in the current election by moving up South Carolina's primary in recognition of that state's Black voters in playing a crucial role in handing Biden the Democratic nomination in 2020. The gesture apparently isn't having much effect, at least if polls are to be believed.