Republicans plan to tie Vice President Kamala Harris to the Biden administration’s support for a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes in an effort to win over black voters in key swing states ahead of the November election.
As Harris continues to perform better in the national polls, Republicans are plotting how to diminish support for certain groups of voters by targeting unpopular policies of the Biden administration, most notably a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, a decision that has been repeatedly postponed by the Food and Drug Administration due to political opposition.
Although Harris has succeeded in revitalizing the Democratic base since replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the electoral list, Washington Examiner suggests that black voters would be less likely to support her candidacy if she supported restrictions on menthol cigarettes.
Survey conducted by Tyson Group shows that Harris is ahead of former President Donald Trump among black voters in Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin. However, support among these groups drops dramatically if Harris were to support a menthol ban.
It is not clear where Harris, who has changed her stance on a number of policies in recent weeks, stands on the issue as the Democratic candidate. Washington Examiner has asked a Harris campaign spokesperson for comment.
The poll shows that support for Harris among black voters drops by 23% in Michigan, 13% in North Carolina, 10% in Georgia and 9% in Wisconsin when asked if they would be “more or less likely to vote for her” if their administration banned cigarettes.
“The coronation of Vice President Harris has completely reshaped this race because she has succeeded in consolidating the Democrats’ most important constituency: black voters,” said Ryan Tyson, CEO and President of the Tyson Group, the Washington Examiner. “One way for Republicans to combat Harris’ rise in the polls is to drive black voters away from her. Highlighting Harris’ support for a ban on menthol cigarettes could be the niche message that does that.”
According to strategists, Republicans will certainly exploit this deficit in the polls throughout the entire vote.
A GOP strategist advising two Senate campaigns said the proposed menthol ban is a “key issue” that Republicans could use to attack Harris as well as Democrats in the Senate and House. In fact, the GOP campaigns will “think about how much money they spend on ads to make the issue,” the strategist said.
“The menthol ban was a burden for Biden and now it is for Kamala,” another Republican campaign manager in the Senate told the Washington Examiner. “Our poll shows that Kamala is losing 23% of African Americans in Michigan because of their support for the ban, and that’s more than the margin in 2020. And every vote Kamala loses is a vote that (Rep. Elissa) Slotkin (D-MI), (Sen. Bob) Casey (D-PA), (Sen. Jacky) Rosen (D-NV) and (Sen. Sherrod) Brown (D-OH) also lose.”
Some groups have already spent money to pressure vulnerable Democrats on the issue. Building America’s Future and Americans for Consumer Protection announced they would spend $10 million to target black voters in swing states about the proposed ban.
Other Senate aides say that even if the issue does not cost Harris the White House, Republicans are expected to scrutinize her closely through “hearings and oversight” if they win control of the upper chamber.
“I’m not sure why they thought criminalizing a brand of cigarettes that is popular with their base was a good idea,” said a senior Republican Senate aide. “It’s a lost cause for Kamala.”
In spring 2021, the FDA first proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. However, due to opposition from certain groups of voters, the Biden administration has repeatedly delayed approval of the proposal, so it is unclear when a final decision will be made.
Republicans have long opposed the proposed ban, and some Democratic lawmakers also spoke out against it as the FDA neared its decision.
Opponents of the ban argue that such restrictions would negatively impact the economy at a time when businesses are already struggling with rising costs and inflation. Cigarettes account for nearly 30 percent of all convenience store sales and over 10 percent of their gross margins, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores. These figures have earned the industry over $54 billion.
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Civil rights activists such as Reverend Al Sharpton have now spoken out against the ban. They believe it would give the police even more reasons to target black people. Supporters of the ban, however, point out that Sharpton accepted donations from industry groups.
Gwen Carr, an activist and mother of Eric Garner, says the ban is inconsistent and racially unjust. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 81% of black adult smokers smoked menthol cigarettes in 2020, compared to 34% of white adult smokers.
Haisten Willis contributed to this story.
