Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk.com,

Hoot of the day: The Democratic Republic of the Congo flag was behind Biden for the duration of his speech.

The Wall Street Journal reports Biden Renews Call for Gaza Cease-Fire at Morehouse Commencement

“I support peaceful, nonviolent protest. Your voices should be heard. I promise you I hear them,” Biden said.

A small number of graduates turned their seats away from the stage during Biden’s speech, and many listened with their heads down. Faculty members on the stage behind the president displayed a large flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the duration of his speech. Antiwar activists have in recent weeks called for international aid to support citizens of that country amid worsening violence.

Fewer than two dozen of the more than 400 graduating students stood to applaud his speech, as a bloc of alumni rose to whistle and cheer. 

Clip of Biden at Morehouse College

Joe Biden inspires Black graduates at Morehouse College by telling them that they’re victims and America hates them.pic.twitter.com/ofxa90Zo5F

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 19, 2024

Correct and Correct

“Joe Biden is hemorrhaging the black vote and he’s trying to insult them into returning.”

Correct and correct
Discussed this morning. 👇https://t.co/KqCgANZdFd

— Mike “Mish” Shedlock (@MishGEA) May 19, 2024

Please play the video in the Tweet above.

My first reaction was wow, what a dismal round of applause. And that’s still my reaction, now backed up by numbers. Fewer than 24 of 400 blacks applauded Biden.

I did not plan to do two political posts in a row, nor did I have any idea that Morehouse College graduates would have this reaction or that Biden was even speaking at Morehouse College.

Biden has serious issues with Black voters judging from recent polls. And judging from the reaction to Biden’s speech to the graduating class of Morehouse College on Sunday, his support may be less than the polls indicate.

Why Biden Is Desperate to Debate Trump

Trump Leads in 5 Key States, as Young and Nonwhite Voters Express Discontent With Biden according to Nate Cohn at the New York Times.

New York Times Swing State Poll Detail

Earlier this morning, I commented Two New Swing State Polls Show Why Biden Is Desperate to Debate Trump

The Shocker

18-29 year-olds turned out en masse for Biden four years ago. Trump now leads age groups 18-29 and 30-44.

And it’s not just the youth vote. According to Pew, Biden captured 92 percent of the black vote in 2020. Now it’s 49-14-11 (Biden, Trump, Kennedy).

People Who Rent Will Decide the 2024 Presidential Election

On April 20, before the latest polls, I commented People Who Rent Will Decide the 2024 Presidential Election

Immigration won’t decide the election. Polls have not yet captured what will. This may come as a surprise, but the top issue housing. More explicitly, it’s shelter costs.

Who Are the Renters?

The answer is younger voters and blacks.

The Apartment List 2023 Millennial Homeownership Report shows Millennial homeownership seriously lags other generations.

Generation Z homeownership is dramatically lower still.

And according to the National Association of Realtors, the homeownership rate among Black Americans is 44 percent whereas for White Americans it’s 72.7 percent.

That’s the largest Black-White homeownership rate gap in a decade.

Young voters are angry about rent, angry over home prices, and angry over mortgage rates. That is reflected in the polls.

Economists still don’t get it. They think the economy is doing great

If these percentages hold, Trump is going to win every swing state plus a few more not yet presumed to be in the ballpark.