Obama admonishes Black men for hesitancy in supporting Harris [Video]

PITTSBURGH — Former president Barack Obama on Thursday made a direct, impassioned plea to Black men to support Vice President Kamala Harris – a key demographic she is struggling to mobilize – at times admonishing them for thinking about sitting out the presidential contest and suggesting sexism might be at play.

During an unannounced stop at a campaign field office in Pittsburgh, which came just hours before he was set to appear at his first campaign rally for Harris, Obama said he wanted to “speak some truths” and address Black men specifically, making his most stark and direct remarks about their hesitancy in supporting Harris to date.

“My understanding, based on reports I’m getting from campaigns and communities, is that we have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running,” Obama said, adding …