From the start of his campaign, Donald Trump has masterfully inflamed cultural tensions for his benefit by attacking Hispanics and Muslims, and denigrating the Black Lives Matter movement. He has also made offensive comments toward women and mocked a journalist suffering from a congenital condition that affects his joints. Unable to condone his behavior that has turned traditional Republican-leaning states like Georgia and Texas into toss-ups, several high-profile Republicans have announced that they will support Hilary Clinton over Trump.
Some of those Republicans who have jumped ship are the same ones who gave the party a plan for success calling for an end to the alienation of women and people of color. After its poor showing among Black, Hispanic and female voters in 2012, the RNC commissioned the study and planned to improve its standing with those groups, which make up an increasingly larger share of the electorate. In addition to Trump’s faltering strategy of relying on self-hating Black cops and Black preachers, one of whom happens to be an infamous alum of the reality show that drove him to stardom, to guide their flocks to vote Republican, the RNC is bolstering its staff with young Black faces.
Ashley Bell, who eight years ago appeared on stage at the Democratic National Convention, was named national director of African American political engagement for the RNC. Shannon Reeves, political science professor at Alabama A&M University, will provide statistical and data assistance to help identify Black voters. Elroy Sailor, former aide to former Black Republican Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts, who also worked on Sen. Rand Paul’s presidential campaign, will offer statistical and political guidance to the party.
“With these new additions to our Strategic Initiatives team, we are growing our long-term commitment to engaging with Black voters and being the Party that promotes new models to solve old problems,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “One of the RNC’s key goals has been to take our message to the Black community and make the case why we are the only party capable of delivering prosperity, security, and freedom for every neighborhood in America.”
Despite the fact that Black women voted at a higher rate than any other demographic in the past two election cycles, women are notably absent from the group of senior advisers. However, Leah LeVell, a senior at Georgia State University, is working with the team as a “fellow,” focusing on reaching out to millennials and students at historically black colleges and universities. Her father, Bruce LeVell, is chairman of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump. To the extent that Republicans seek to convince the youthful, rebellious supporters of former candidate Bernie Sanders to join the Trump version of the political revolution, the young LeVell represents hope. Bell pointed to Georgia as an example of a state where boosting Black support for Trump would be crucial, as a statewide poll shows Trump and Clinton tied there.
“In a state like that, the race could hinge on the Black vote,” Bell said. “Politics is always local and our goal is to make sure that the people on the ground have the resources they need, messaging and tools, to engage African American voters.”
