When it comes to Donald Trump and women, one number is commonly used: an estimated 7 in 10 women nationally view him unfavorably. But on the Republican side, things are a little different, even if they’re not so open about it. Our reporter Alison Vicrobeck has the story.
He’s repeatedly been called misogynous and sexist in the media, so it might seem as though Donald Trump wouldn’t be doing well with female voters. But in fact, the latest polls in New York state show that he gets over 50% of Republican women votes. But who are they?
AUDREY MARIE 1: I really do believe in the silent majority. Just a few weeks ago, I just set up a pseudonym and a twitter just to be able to have an outlet. (0:08)
This Trump supporter chose to go by the alias Audrey Marie. She owns a business in the arts and is afraid that if anyone were to find out that she is truly a Trump supporter and not a liberal, it might impact her business.
AUDREY MARIE 2: Both being a Republican in Manhattan as well as Trump supporter within the Republican party… it’s difficult. (0:05)
It certainly doesn’t make it easier when Trump take a controversial stance on an issue. Like when he spoke with Chris Matthews of MSNBC at a town hall a few weeks ago.
DONALD TRUMP 1: MATTHEWS: Do you believe in punishment for abortion, yes or no, as a principle?
TRUMP: The answer is there has to be some form of punishment.
MATTHEWS: For the woman?
TRUMP: Yes. (0:10)
Audrey Marie’s friends expect her to vote for Hillary Clinton, because she’s a woman, but Audrey Marie stands by Donald Trump and even agrees with him.
AUDREY MARIE 3: I watched it real time when he was being interviewed. And, I actually — call me crazy — was a little disappointed when he back pedalled on his answer, because I thought he gave a logical answer. (0:11)
And anyway, many of Trump’s female supporters don’t think that his comments truly represent his views. Actions speak louder than words.
AUDREY MARIE 4: Looking at his children is one of the biggest convincing, you know, motivating factors for me to vote for Trump. I mean, I think that if he was truly a sexist and thought women shouldn’t move up in the ranks and have equal opportunity, it would reflect that with his children who would be stay at home-moms. And they’re actually, Ivanka, anyway, is very much the opposite. (0:17)
Ivanka has emerged as more than competent spokeswoman for her father’s campaign. Earlier this week at a town Hall that aired on CNN, she defended her father’s views on women.
IVANKA TRUMP 1: He believes in inspiring women, empowering women. He always taught me that there wasn’t anything that I couldn’t do if I set my mind to it. And I don’t think that’s the message a father would relay to a daughter who he didn’t believe had the potential to accomplish exactly what her brothers could. (0:16)
Trump supporters are looking past his sometimes controversial statements on women. David Byler is an elections analyst at Real Clear Politics, one of the leading election news and polling data aggregator. He says voters are concerned with other issues.
DAVID BYLER 1: Trump does appeal to a majority of Republican Women. They agree with him on the issues and they like his image. (0:07)
New Yorkers will vote in the primaries on Tuesday and it’s clear that Donald Trump has a home-state advantage.
DAVID BYLER 2: Trump looks like the absolute favorite to win the state (0:04)
Byler warns that how Donald Trump does in New York, doesn’t necessarily reflect how he’ll do nationally, especially if he gets the nomination.
DAVID BYLER 3: Even if he is right that the majority of republican women would vote for him, it might not be enough to put him over the top. (0:06)
Because here’s the thing: nationally, Trump’s negative ratings are higher than any other presidential frontrunner since 1984. And of course, that tension is something Audrey Marie has definitely noticed.
AUDREY MARIE 6: Even at conservative events I go to, I get a little side eye, and they must be seeing a different candidate.
But still, she’s confident there are many others like her, women voters for Trump, hiding in the electoral shadows.
Alison Vicrobeck. Columbia Radio News.
Commenti