Trump's Efforts to Win Female Voters Face Uphill Battle in 2024 Race
Former President Trump attempts to appeal to women voters with new proposals, but polls show a significant gender gap favoring his Democratic opponent. Trump's recent rally in Wisconsin highlights the challenge.
In the lead-up to the November 5, 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump is making concerted efforts to appeal to female voters, despite facing a significant gender gap in polls. The former president's recent rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, highlighted his attempts to address this challenge, but experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of his strategy.
Trump has recently introduced proposals on in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, child care costs, and reproductive rights. However, these efforts appear to be at odds with his previous actions, such as appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, ending federal protection for abortion rights.
At the Mosinee rally, Trump reiterated his support for exceptions to abortion bans in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the mother's life. He also praised the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, stating, "We did a great thing when we got Roe v. Wade out of the federal government. We put it in the hands of the people and they're voting."
Tresa Undem, a partner at PerryUndem research, commented on Trump's recent statements:
"clearly an effort to appeal to female voters. Maybe some of his pro-choice voters ... maybe it sort of provides a little bit of relief if they hear he supports IVF, if they hear he supports abortion in some cases. But I don't think it'll draw voters to him."
Polling data suggests that Trump faces a significant challenge in winning over female voters. In the 2020 election, President Biden won women by 15 points, while current polls show Democratic nominee Kamala Harris leading Trump by similar margins among women.
Despite these numbers, female supporters at the Mosinee rally expressed surprise at the gender gap in polling. Some attendees, like Pam Botwinski and Darcy Yde, voiced their continued support for Trump, citing his employment of women in his campaign and his stance on abortion as state-level issues.
Wisconsin, a crucial battleground state, has been a focus of Trump's campaign efforts. The former president has visited the state twice in recent weeks, underscoring its importance in the upcoming election. In previous elections, Trump won 56% and 58% of the vote in Marathon County in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
As the November 5 election approaches, Trump's ability to narrow the gender gap may prove crucial in determining the outcome. With Wisconsin and other swing states hanging in the balance, the former president's appeal to female voters will likely remain a key focus of his campaign strategy in the coming months.
