WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has finally made a pitch for African-American votes with an unusual argument, telling blacks to support him because they have ''nothing to lose.''
Building on the Republican argument that blacks have suffered because of laws passed during the Clinton Presidency and their lot had not improved under Obama, Trump told a rally in Michigan, ''You're living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58% of your youth is unemployed -- what the hell do you have to lose?''
Criticized for making no effort at all to attract black voters, Trump chose a predominantly white suburb of Lansing in Michigan for his pitch, demonstrating yet again the quirkiness of his campaign. He told the rally that if elected, he would win 95 per cent of the black vote if he ran again because of what he would do for African-Americans in his first term.
Black commentators have ridiculed the claim, pointing out a well-chronicled history of Trump’s purported racism. Black protestors have been assaulted at his rallies, and Trump defended one incident where a demonstrator was kicked and punched by an angry white mob, saying, ''Maybe he should have been roughed up because it was absolutely disgusting what he was doing.''
Other comments at rallies also make it clear he weighs in on the side of aggressive policing that has put the black population of America on the mat and incarcerated them in record numbers.
African-Americans constitute around 12 per cent of the electorate but a large number are disenfranchised because of felony convictions. The white establishment in some states also makes it difficult for blacks to vote by conjuring up road-blocks, such as restricting early voting and making polling booth inaccessible except by driving.
Some polls show Hillary Clinton leading Trump 91 per cent to 1 cent among black voters. In fact, some local polls show Trump with zero per cent black votes. President Obama received 96 per cent of black vote in his first Presidential campaign and 93 per cent in his second re-election.
But in his speech, Trump argued that blacks had done poorly under Democratic administrations. ''The inner cities of our country have been run by the Democratic Party for more than 50 years. Their policies have produced only poverty, joblessness, failing schools and broken homes,'' he argued with some merit. ''It’s time to hold Democratic politicians accountable for what they have done to these communities. At what point do we say enough?''
In an earlier rally, Trump revealed a rare moment of humility, offering regrets for some unspecified flubs. ''Sometimes, in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. I have done that. And believe it or not, I regret it. And I do regret it, particularly where it may have caused personal pain. Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues,'' he told supporters.
Trump also went to Louisiana to survey damage from flood in the state even as President Obama was being panned for going on vacation to Martha’s Vineyards at the same time.
But going by other developments in the Trump campaign -- including continued eviction of minority protestors at his rallies, red-blooded chants of ''Lock her up!'' by angry white mobs every time Hillary Clinton’s name is mentioned, and a scaremongering new Trump campaign ad released on Saturday -- the minority outreach is just a token attempt.
The campaign strategy still appears to center on consolidating disgruntled white voters by invoking fear of an America overrun by immigrants, foreigners, and other non-white people -- all presented in the first campaign ad released on Saturday.