GILBERT, S.C. — “Whether it’s ISIS or the shootings in San Bernardino, I like that he’s not afraid to stand up and say, ‘Enough,’” explained Nyjel Jackson at a recent Donald Trump rally.



Jackson had driven three hours, up from Georgia Southern University, where he’s a freshman, to attend the rally. He’s a Ben Carson supporter, but would vote for Trump if he won the nomination (he wishes Trump were a little more professorial at times). Like nearly all black attendees at the rally, this will be his first time voting.

Others, like Shaun Cook, of Gilbert — who came to the Trump rally with his friends Bree, Jeremiah, and Jan — say they’re voting for Trump in the primary because “I like what he’s saying about illegal immigration and the wall. I think everyone in the U.S. should be legal, and we should have more rules to stop illegals. I really like that.”

Cook, 17, said he never “liked” Obamacare. “It doesn’t work for everyone, just some people. He did some good things but black people should be doing better.”

Several of the young and black attendees echoed that idea — that black America hasn’t succeeded under President Obama. “Obama hasn't helped black people,” said Alex Chalgren of Irmo, S.C. who is the state director for SC Students 4Trump. “If Trump stresses the point that Obama has not helped his own people he can get a lot of the black vote.”

As the possibility of Trump winning the nomination sinks in, some Republicans have been floating this theory: that Trump could put black voters like Jackson and Cook in play for Republicans in the general election.

This theory — which is mostly being pushed by a few pollsters, fringe black operatives, Trump sympathizers, and Trump himself — is rooted in the idea that black voters aren’t as excited about either of the leading Democratic contenders, and that Trump’s high name ID and life story could win over a higher percentage of black voters than GOP nominees have been able to secure in recent presidential elections.

One problem: Public polling does not currently back this theory up, when it comes to Trump himself or the policies he’s proposed. And in Gilbert, there were only about a dozen black Trump fans — at a rally attended by hundreds of people.

Still, the theory hasn’t died — even among establishment Republicans in Washington. They won’t publicly talk about it, but the idea has come up in private discussions on Capitol Hill, half a dozen sources say.

That Trump fans harassed black protesters at his rallies, or that Trump himself has said that maybe a protester should have been “roughed up,” or called for a ban on Muslim immigration, or alienated some of his very famous black friends, or fanned the Obama birther conspiracies years ago has made for bad news, sure, but some Republicans sympathetic to Trump believe he would change his tone — and has a particular agenda — that would appeal to voters in a general election.



"I think he’s going to be talking about issues that could appeal to African Americans — like trade,” Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions told BuzzFeed News. "So I think there could be support for him there.” (Sessions hasn’t endorsed in the presidential primary, but a top aide from his office recently left to advise Trump’s campaign.)

Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott — one of two black senators — said he hadn’t heard the theory, but it shouldn’t be ruled out.

“All things are possible,” he told BuzzFeed News. “I haven’t heard that specifically, but I think our candidates are doing their very best to make sure that we have a message that resonates all over the place and with all constituencies, and I hope that whoever our nominee will take to heart the opportunity to win votes in non-traditional Republican camps.”

The senator, who recently endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio, also said that Trump has made an effort to meet with black voters in his home state. "He had a meeting in North Charleston where I believe over 100 young, professionals, small business owners showed up and had a very interesting and invigorating conversation with Donald, and it seemed to have gone well.”