Individuals usually tend to imagine that being a lady will damage Kamala Harris ‘ possibilities within the November election, in comparison with eight years in the past when Hillary Clinton was operating. And they’re extra more likely to imagine that Donald Trump ‘s gender will assist him.
A brand new ballot from The Related Press-NORC Heart for Public Affairs Analysis signifies a shift in attitudes amongst U.S. adults within the time between the candidacies of the primary and second feminine major-party nominees. The shift in attitudes is essentially pushed by Democrats — significantly Democratic males. About 3 in 10 Democratic males thought Clinton’s gender would damage her “considerably” or “so much” previous to her loss to Trump. About half now say that about Harris.
“I might say this nation doesn’t actually have an excellent observe file of supporting feminine candidates,” mentioned Julian Zeng, a 34-year-old copy editor and author from California who’s a Democrat.
Democratic ladies have additionally grown extra more likely to say being a lady may very well be a hurdle for a presidential candidate: About 4 in 10 Democratic ladies mentioned Clinton’s gender would damage her, and about half say that about Harris now. Republican males solely shifted barely, and Republican ladies’s views remained secure.
Individuals are additionally extra more likely to see Trump’s gender as one thing that may assist his probabilities of being elected. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults now say that being a person is one thing that may assist him, up from round 3 in 10 when the identical query was requested in an AP-NORC ballot throughout his 2016 marketing campaign.
The ballot helps clarify how each candidates method gender
The ballot’s findings appear to bolster arguments for the way in which each candidates have addressed gender of their campaigns.
Harris focuses much less on the history-making potential of her win than Clinton did, though the opportunity of electing a lady president may enthuse her supporters. She does emphasize reproductive rights in her marketing campaign and Trump’s nomination of three of the Supreme Courtroom justices who voted to overturn a nationally assured proper to abortion.
Trump, who for years has most popular to blast the Village Individuals’s tune “Macho Man” as he enters and exits his marketing campaign rallies, has courted youthful males and promoted a masculine picture with appearances at mixed-martial arts occasions and soccer video games. He has not too long ago began calling himself a “protector” of girls.
Carlos Stallworth, a 59-year-old Republican from California, mentioned Trump’s gendered attraction comes by in his campaigning, calling the previous president “a man’s man, a person’s man form of man.”
Stallworth, who mentioned he’s undecided however leaning towards Trump in November, mentioned he’s skeptical that Harris can win and feels that she’s not coming off as a forceful would-be commander-in-chief by not releasing extra detailed plans, significantly on points just like the financial system, that may assist her overcome attitudes in “a male-chauvinist world.”
“It’s going to take a bit bit extra for her than identical to the common man,” he mentioned.
Some voters mentioned Trump’s persona and rhetoric would possibly assist Harris get previous baked-in attitudes about ladies in energy.
“Had been it not Trump, I believe that it might damage her,” mentioned Elizabeth Aguilar, a 48-year-old college professor from Illinois.
Aguilar, a Democrat, mentioned she thinks some voters should be uncomfortable with the thought of a feminine president.
“However I believe that his feedback and his misogynist perspective are thus far out that folks could also be prepared to miss the truth that she’s a lady,” she mentioned.
Clinton says she’s ‘actually optimistic’ about Harris
Solely about one-quarter of Individuals say Harris’ gender “gained’t make a distinction” to her probabilities of getting elected this fall, down from when one-third mentioned that about Clinton in 2016. Barely lower than half say Trump’s gender gained’t have an effect, down from round 6 in 10 throughout his first run.
In a latest interview with the AP carried out previous to the ballot, Clinton mentioned she’s “feeling actually optimistic” that Harris will win. She mentioned she additionally feels Harris will profit from the truth that the nation has develop into extra accustomed to the picture of a feminine presidential candidate, having seen not solely her run eight years in the past but in addition a crowded Democratic presidential main 4 years later that included a number of feminine candidates.
“We now don’t simply have one picture of an individual who occurs to be a lady who ran for president, particularly me,” Clinton mentioned. “We’ve bought a broader view, and I believe that’s all for the great.”
Cherene Bates, a 51-year-old Republican from Pocatello, Idaho, mentioned she hasn’t determined who she’s supporting in November, however she is optimistic that Harris’ gender won’t be an obstacle for different voters.
“I actually hope that folks wouldn’t discredit her as a result of she’s a feminine,” Bates mentioned.
She mentioned it’s doable gender performed a task in Clinton’s loss in 2016, however she hopes it didn’t.
“As a nation, I believe we nonetheless have been prepared to change gears, to have a distinct way of thinking and elect a feminine president,” Bates mentioned. “I hope that we’re much more so now.”
The ballot of two,028 adults was carried out Sept. 12-16, 2024, utilizing a pattern drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be consultant of the U.S. inhabitants. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.1 proportion factors.