How Kamala Harris is trying to get black voters back on Biden's side by targeting 'young brothers' on the campaign and inviting them to 'extraordinary gentlemen' dinners

President Joe Biden's campaign is sending Vice President Kamala Harris to help rebuild their approval with black voters in key swing states, as polls show that fewer African-American men are interested in backing them for reelection. 

Billed as a 'Nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour,' Harris is focusing intently on urban communities to have more conversations with black business leaders about everything the administration has done for them.

‘I decided I wanted to get out, and get out of DC and get into the neighborhood, into the community,’ Harris said in an interview with activist Al Sharpton to preview her effort.

US Vice President Kamala Harris greets supporters after speaking to begin a nationwide 'Economic Opportunity Tour' 

US Vice President Kamala Harris (R) talks with Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves (2nd L) and Mobility Capital Finance CEO Wole Coaxum

During the interview, she singled out black men as an audience she was interested in talking to directly.

‘I’ve got some wonderful young brothers in particular who are very successful in business and I’ll be talking with them about their story and what our policies can do to support people like them,’ she said.

The Biden-Harris campaign is well aware of a difficulty in retaining support from black men. A group of prominent black men Democrats were invited to the White House in December to discuss the problem with Biden aides.

An April Wall Street Journal poll of seven swing states recent showed that as many as 30 percent of black men were considering voting for Trump instead of Biden, sounding additional alarm bells for the campaign.

Harris is uniquely interested in courting black men in business, politics, and culture, as CNN reported she is hosting what she describes as 'extraordinary gentlemen' dinners behind the scenes.

But she denied that the campaign had a specific demographic problem during an interview with CNN.

'I don’t agree with it. And it’s not been my experience. It’s literally not been my experience,' Harris said when asked if she was concerned about the campaign connecting with black men.

US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) greets attendees after speaking during the second stop of her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour

Vice President Kamala Harris, left, takes a selfie photo with a supporter

“If you think about the issues that are important, I’ll just tell you based on my own experiences politically and personally, I don’t agree with the premise,' she added.

But as the election draws closer, Harris is paying closer attention to black media figures and black audiences.  

In Atlanta last week, Harris appeared to talk about small businesses with podcasting duo Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, who focus on financial literacy.

'I interchange the word entrepreneur and small business,' she laughed. 'I think, basically, depending on the generation, someone considers themselves an entrepreneur — in terms of younger small businesses, but it’s all entrepreneurship, right?'

As backlash to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness programs emerged in this election cycle, Harris promised to fight for the concept during her conversation.

'In spite of those who in certain parts of our country want to attack DEI, we understand that you can’t truly invest in the strength of our nation if you don’t pay attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion,' Harris said.

In Detroit, Harris pulled out all the stops as she welcomed business leaders like Mobility Capital Finance CEO Wole Coaxum, President and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), and Ron Busby Sr. for her event on economic opportunity.

US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks during the second stop of her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour i

The Cass Technology High School marching band performs before US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks

Harris invited the Cass Technology High School marching band to perform prior to her event before she paraded government officials on stage to promote their agenda for black communities. 

Acting Secretary Julie Su, Small Business Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed, U.S. Secretary of Energy Granholm, and Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves appeared at the event to champion the Biden administration's efforts. 

Harris traveled to Detroit with a full court press of influential black media figures, some who got a seat on Air Force 2 for the trip. 

Nehemiah D. Frank the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of The Black Wall Street Times and Roland Martin joined her on the flight. 

 After making headlines for grinning and shouting 'shrimp and grits' at reporters shouting questions about Gaza as she left a restaurant, Harris brought the group of journalists together for a mini-briefing.

She revealed she listened in on a call with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that morning.

'We are closely tracking what is happening on the ground and my team is keeping me updated, and I have nothing further at this time, but I'll keep you all posted if I have anything,' she said soberly.

When reporters got back on the plane, they found a special surprise from the vice president: Dinner from the same restaurant they visited earlier in the day. 

'Thank you for the soul food,' wrote Frank, 'The food was so delicious; I couldn't get enough of it.'

Harris is not unfamiliar with the strategy. In 2019, when she was first running for president, Harris utilized the power of black media figures to earn respect from their audiences. 

Harris brought Breakfast Club show host Charlemagne tha God on the campaign trail in South Carolina in 2019 to talk about the importance of mental health when she was running for president.

 Charlemagne tha God interviews Vice President Kamala Harris 

But Charlemagne is in the vice president's rearview mirror after a 2021 interview where Harris and her press secretary tried to cut short an interview when it got heated.

Charlemagne feels the same way.

'I’ve learned my lesson from doing that,' he told Politico in January, expressing regret for supporting Harris and Biden. 'Once they got in the White House, she … kind of disappeared.'