Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that he believes Vice President Harris’ candidacy will drive enthusiasm among black voters to higher levels than seen in 2008, when former President Obama ran for first time.
“I thought what I saw in 2008 could never be duplicated,” Meeks said at a press conference with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and its political action committee, which he chairs.
“I thought this interest would disappear. But let me tell you, what we are seeing now goes beyond what I saw in early 2008,” Meeks said. “The only time in my life I saw lines around the block of people waiting to vote, taking their time, making sure they had the right to vote and were going to vote was in 2008 – that, I will say, will be destroyed in 2024 in November.”
While just over 62 percent of Black voters voted in 2020, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, the Pew Research Center reports that 65 percent of Black voters voted in 2008 and 67 percent in 2012.
Black voters already appear to be investing heavily in Harris, who announced her candidacy on Sunday after President Biden said he would no longer seek re-election and endorsed her.
Harris has raised more than $100 since launching her campaign, with more than $1.2 million raised on Monday by #WinWithBlackMen, according to reports.
Meeks said CBCPAC will target swing states and predominantly black areas, including Detroit, Milwaukee, Las Vegas and Atlanta, to encourage voter participation in the coming weeks.
“When you see those lines coming out in those areas, you know what’s coming next — the next president of the United States, Kamala Harris,” Meeks said.
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