Former President Trump is betting that his appeal to male voters will offset his difficulties with female voters, and the gender gap in support between him and Vice President Harris is likely to play a key role in November’s election.
Much has been made of Trump’s difficulties with female voters; polls show him underperforming with that group. But Trump’s allies have pointed to the former president’s continued support among men and his campaign’s efforts to court younger men in particular as a way to offset that disadvantage.
Trump attended numerous Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, appeared on professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau’s YouTube show, appeared with controversial internet streamer Adin Ross, and met with podcasters such as Theo Von and influencer and wrestler Logan Paul.
These appearances are part of a broader campaign by the former president to appeal to juvenile men, a group both campaigns see as one of the easier to persuade in the election campaign.
“Democrats have lost ground with male voters campaign after campaign because Kamala Harris’ agenda of raising costs, raising taxes, opening the southern border and weakening America in the eyes of the world has left all Americans worse off,” said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, in a statement. “Male voters know that if they want more money in their pockets, safer communities and peace through strength, President Trump is the only choice on November 5th.”
Male voters are not a monolith, nor are black or Latino men. But Trump’s campaign has tried to appeal to each of these groups through its media appearances, its Celebrity advertising and the central campaign theme “Strength vs. Weakness”.
Trump’s allies said the former president’s support among male voters stems from his appeal on issues such as the economy and immigration. Other issues – including abortion, which Harris has made a central focus of her campaign – tend to be less critical to many male voters.
“The two most important issues for men in this election are inflation and the border. They don’t think about abortion the way many women do,” said a Republican strategist.
Polls have consistently shown that voters trust Trump more on immigration issues. He also had a long lead on economic issues, although Harris has now narrowed that gap.
Trump won male voters by 8 percentage points in 2020, according to Post-election pollsand received 53 percent of the vote compared to 45 percent for President Biden.
A CNN national survey The study, released on Tuesday, showed that Trump was nine points ahead of Harris among men, 52 to 43.
A poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College after the September 10 debate between Trump and Harris found that the Republican leads by 17 percentage points among men, and 62 percent of men think the country is heading in the wrong direction.
This poll also revealed a significant gender gap, showing Harris leading among women by 11 points.
A survey published on Tuesday by the Harvard Institute of Politics 2,002 voters under 30 found that Harris was 17 percentage points ahead of Trump among male voters and 47 percentage points ahead of Trump among female voters.
“This is one of those polls without much nuance. Harris is dominant. She is ahead in almost every group, including men and young people without college degrees,” said John Della Volpe, the institute’s polling director. posted on the social platform X.
The Harris campaign argued that the former president’s appeals to male voters were largely hollow and offered no concrete solutions to concrete problems. And a spokesman said the Democratic campaign was working to reach men and juvenile men where they consume information.
“While Trump relies on a handful of podcast appearances and empty gestures to sugarcoat an agenda that offers little substance on the issues that matter to men – instead promising to ban abortion nationwide, cut children’s health insurance and raise taxes on the middle class – Vice President Harris and her campaign team everywhere are making the case for a future where everyone has a chance not just to get by, but to get ahead,” Harris campaign spokesman Seth Schuster said in a statement.
The Harris campaign has aired ads during NFL and college football games, drawing on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s (D) experience as a football coach. Walz and other surrogates have toured college campuses in recent weeks, with the governor meeting with fraternity members to talk about the importance of voting.
The Harris campaign has also expanded its presence on TikTok, podcasts and Instagram, and is working with influencers who have huge followings, especially among men. Harris gave an interview this week with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
Harris’ allies have also sought to boost her standing, particularly among white men. The group White Dudes for Harris has held virtual fundraisers to drum up support, and last week rolled out a $10 million advertising campaign, with the first ad targeting white men in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
In a recent interview with the National Association of Black Journalists, Harris dismissed the notion that black men would join Trump, saying candidates must “earn” their vote just like any other group.
“That’s why I’m working to earn the right to vote – not because I assume I’ll get it because I’m black, but because through my politics and my perspectives, I understand what we need to do to address the needs of all communities, and I intend to be a president for all people,” she said.
