With President Joe Biden somewhat struggling with Black voters — at least compared to historical trends — Black members of Congress are trying to figure out why.
The problem, some Black lawmakers think, is Biden keeps missing the mark when it comes to messaging about the economy. Time and again, Black lawmakers have brought up an inherent tension between the Biden campaign taking credit for a stronger economy while also not making voters feel like the job is done.
The Biden campaign knows economic messaging is tricky. They want to tout their accomplishments while also being sympathetic to voters who feel the cost of living has outpaced their wages. It’s part of the reason why the Biden campaign has largely adopted the message that voters should let him “finish the job” on the economy — an acknowledgment that things aren’t perfect while also acknowledging that things are getting better.