On Real Time, Bill Maher highlighted a startling Emerson poll: while Pete Buttigieg leads Democratic primary voters with 16 % support, he earns a literal zero from Black voters. NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith delivered the verdict in blunt terms: “He doesn’t move us.”
Bill Maher quipped, “Zero… You don’t usually see zero. Anywhere. Zero’s low.” Stephen A. Smith agreed, nodding to Buttigieg’s intelligence and likability but concluding, “He doesn’t move us.” Maher pushed for explanations, but Smith declined to speculate further.
This isn’t new. In the 2025 Democratic primary run-up, Buttigieg led early polling yet faced laborious headwinds among Black voters. A June Emerson College poll echoed the 0 % finding—despite his frontrunner status, he received no support from that demographic.
Historical context underscores the challenge. During his 2020 presidential bid, Buttigieg struggled to connect with Black voters. Despite spending heavily on advertising in South Carolina, his share remained near 2 % in early 2020 polls. Politico described his standing as “on life support” in states with sizable Black electorates.
Political analysts cite several reasons: lack of authentic connection, limited appeal on issues that resonate with Black communities, and a campaign persona that often felt distant or overly technocratic. Even comparisons to Obama fell flat, as Buttigieg’s profile lacked the community-rooted credibility Obama carried.
