On September 23, 2024, an article highlighted former President Donald Trump’s increasing concerns about his waning popularity among women, a critical issue for his candidacy. Trump’s struggles with the gender gap, evident in various polls, underscore a significant challenge as he attempts to regain political ground.
An NBC poll revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris currently holds a solid lead over Trump in the national vote, with Harris leading Trump 49 percent to 44 percent. The gender divide is particularly notable, with Harris leading among women by 58 to 37 percent—a gap of 21 percentage points. This contrast is sharper compared to the 2016 election when Hillary Clinton led women by 54 to 39 percent, a 15-point gap. Among men, Trump is doing slightly better in comparison to 2016, leading Harris by 52 to 40 percent.
A CBS analysis of a Suffolk University/USA Today poll highlighted a similar widening gender gap, with women favoring Democrats by 21 points. This gap is nearly double the record set by Bill Clinton over Bob Dole in 1996. The article notes that gender remains a polarizing issue, especially given the historic context of Harris as a potential female president. While Clinton’s 2016 campaign heavily emphasized the prospect of shattering the glass ceiling, Harris has largely avoided such rhetoric, partly due to the fear of alienating swing voters and the post-Dobbs decision, which has brought abortion into sharp focus.
To address his gender deficit, Trump recently made a fervent appeal to women through a lengthy post on Truth Social, emphasizing economic and social issues, asserting that he would restore safety, health, and happiness for women. He also mentioned abortion, claiming that it should be a state matter, aligning with exceptions like those advocated by Ronald Reagan. Trump’s rhetoric, filled with bold claims about the state of the nation under his potential leadership, was seen as patronizing and quite forcefully presented.
This social media post, characterized by its all-caps format and assertive tone, was reiterated by Trump at a rally in North Carolina. This indicates that the message is a deliberate component of his campaign strategy. In subsequent posts, Trump continued attacking female public figures and prominent Harris supporters, displaying a pattern of derogatory comments.
The article concludes that Trump’s confrontational approach seems aimed at bolstering his support among men rather than mitigating his unpopularity with women. However, with only marginal improvements among male voters and a substantial deficit with female voters, this strategy may not suffice for a successful campaign. The 2024 election context, marked by an unprecedented gender gap, suggests significant challenges for Trump’s candidacy.
