### Conservative Group Plans $10 Million Effort to Reduce Harris' Black Voter Support
A conservative nonprofit group is planning to spend $10 million on an advertising campaign aimed at reducing Vice President Kamala Harris' support among Black voters. The campaign, led by Building America's Future and Americans for Consumer Protection, focuses on criticizing the Biden-Harris administration’s proposal to ban menthol cigarettes—a measure that was postponed earlier this year .
The campaign will target Black voters in swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin through digital ads, text messages, and direct mail. The advertisements will frame the proposed ban as an example of the administration being out of touch, suggesting that Harris and other Democrats are focusing on less critical issues.
One of the ads states, "Instead of solving the problems that matter to you, Kamala Harris and D.C. Democrats are coming after your menthol cigarettes," and goes on to highlight other issues such as the "border crisis" and the "fentanyl crisis."
The proposed ban on menthol cigarettes, first introduced by the Biden administration in 2021, aims to address public health concerns, particularly among Black smokers, who are statistically more likely to use menthol cigarettes. However, this move has sparked debate, with some civil rights and healthcare groups divided on its impact.
The ads from Building America’s Future do not explicitly urge viewers to vote against Harris, as rules for nonprofit advertising prohibit direct political advocacy. Nevertheless, the group's strategy is clear: by highlighting the menthol ban, they aim to weaken Harris' support among Black voters, a crucial demographic for the Democratic Party.
Polling data shared by Building America’s Future indicates that many Black voters prefer the administration to focus on issues other than the menthol ban. However, the potential impact of this strategy remains uncertain, with differing opinions on whether the message will resonate with voters in the intended way.
Despite the controversy, public health advocates like Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, support the ban as a measure to protect Black communities from targeted marketing by tobacco companies. Meanwhile, other prominent figures, such as attorney Benjamin Crump, have expressed concerns about increased policing related to the ban.
This new campaign is just one of several efforts by conservative groups to influence key voter bases ahead of the 2024 election, reflecting the high stakes involved in this closely contested race.