Josh Marshall nails what's really, really wrong with the Trump candidacy: They're simultaneously trying to get black votes and the votes of those who believe blacks get too much consideration and favoritism. At some point, they seemed to have believed they could win the White House with just the latter but the polls show that ain't happening so now, someone thinks they can pivot. Or maybe pivot enough to get some of the black vote without losing whites who resent catering to blacks…or something. Whatever it is, it's not possible. Not after months of the first approach.
But I also think what Trump's after are white voters who are uncomfy with his more racist appeals. I think a lot of this is an attempt to soften his image and maybe pick up some of them. And I don't think that can possibly work either.
And there's one more thing that I think it working against Trump. His position on way too many issues is basically "Trust me. I'll come up with something great." What's his plan for health care if he does as he promises and kills Obamacare? He'll come up with something great. What's he going to do to stimulate the economy? He'll come up with something great. And now, what's he going to do to better the lives of black people? He's going to come up with something so great that when he runs for his second term, he'll get 95% of the black vote.
You can get away with that early in a campaign but as Election Day grows near, people want to hear a little bit about what that "something great" is.