As the South Carolina primary approaches, the Liberty Policy Foundation, a conservative advocacy group, is using the state as a strategic platform to challenge the proposed menthol cigarette ban by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The group hopes this will undermine President Joe Biden’s support among Black voters.
The group is set to launch a vigorous ad campaign in South Carolina, aiming to shift public sentiment against Biden and the Democrats, according to a Republican strategist associated with the group. The campaign was initiated on digital platforms on Wednesday morning.
The strategist revealed that the campaign is targeting three demographics: African Americans who are dissatisfied with Biden’s presidency, small business owners, and young Americans with independent political leanings. The Liberty Policy Foundation views this campaign as a high priority, aiming to gauge its impact on voter preferences during the primary.
Republicans and conservative groups are exploring whether this issue can be leveraged to influence voter behavior and diminish the president’s vote tally. They aim to exploit a perceived decline in Biden’s support and enthusiasm among Democratic voters, potentially transforming the proposed ban into a contentious issue in the 2024 election.
The group plans to launch a substantial ad campaign in South Carolina, followed by campaigns in four other states a week later: North Carolina, Virginia, Nevada, and Michigan. These states are considered potential swing states in a general presidential election.
President Biden has not yet decided whether to approve the FDA’s proposed ban on menthol cigarettes. While health advocates argue that the ban would save hundreds of thousands of Black lives, it could also be unpopular among some Black voters. The tobacco industry has heavily marketed menthol cigarettes in the Black community for decades, and they continue to be widely available and cheaper in these communities, according to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
The ad set to run in the South Carolina market features a woman’s voiceover questioning President Biden’s unity message in light of his divisive policies, such as the proposed menthol cigarette ban. The ad also highlights concerns raised by community leaders about the potential unintended consequences of the ban.
The ad references Eric Garner, who died after police held him in a chokehold for allegedly selling cigarettes illegally. Some civil rights leaders with ties to the tobacco industry have expressed concerns to the White House that a ban could criminalize menthol cigarettes and lead to an increase in deadly police interactions. However, the proposed ban explicitly states it would target cigarette manufacturers and retailers, not individuals.
Other groups, including the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus, support the proposed menthol cigarette ban. The American Lung Association, in a report issued on Wednesday, urged the Biden administration to act swiftly on the proposed ban, noting that menthol cigarettes make it easier to start smoking and harder to quit. The report estimates that a regulation banning menthol cigarettes could save about 654,000 lives over the next 40 years, particularly among Black smokers who are disproportionately more likely to smoke menthols.