Gingrich: Trump will have 'surprising' success with black voters
By Ben Kamisar - 05/17/16 02:55 PM EDT
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), largely speculated as one of the names on Donald Trump Donald TrumpIran convicts American businessman on spying charge: report DC, state capitals see few issues, heavy security amid protest worries Pardon-seekers have paid Trump allies tens of thousands to lobby president: NYT MORE's vice presidential short list, predicted that the presumptive GOP presidential nominee would have "surprising" success with black voters.
"He's going to get a surprising bigger vote there than [Mitt] Romney or George [W.] Bush," Gingrich said Tuesday during a question-and-answer session streamed on his Facebook page.
Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, won 6 percent of the black vote, while President George W. Bush peaked in 2004 with 11 percent, according to exit polls.
A new NBC/Survey Monkey tracking poll released Tuesday showed Trump with 9 percent of the black vote.
The former Speaker said Trump needs to "go into the black community," listing places like Chicago's South Side neighborhood, Newark, N.J., and Baltimore as targets. He added that many cities with significant black populations have long been governed by Democratic lawmakers and that many may be ready for a change.
"Mr. Trump needs to say, 'Wouldn't you like to try having jobs? Wouldn't you like to try having a safe neighborhood? Wouldn't you like to try schools that work?' " Gingrich said, before continuing to echo what he thinks Trump should say.
'"Come with me and I represent real change, and maybe we can get those things done. But stay with [Democratic presidential front-runner] Hillary [Clinton] and it's the same, sad disastrous past.'"
Gingrich also addressed Trump's lagging poll numbers among women, lauding "his track record of promoting women executives" and arguing he needs to better communicate his plan to keep families safe and with strong jobs.
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