As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris is grappling with a critical issue that could sway the outcome: her apparent struggle to gain traction with male voters. NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell raised concerns during a recent appearance on Meet the Press, where she highlighted Harris’s significant gender gap, especially with male voters—a demographic that could be pivotal in the upcoming election.
Mitchell noted that although Harris is polling ahead of former President Donald Trump in some national surveys, her weakness among men, particularly business leaders and voters across both political parties, could spell trouble as Election Day nears.
In her discussion on Meet the Press, Andrea Mitchell emphasized the urgency of Harris’s situation. “I think they’ve got to double down on doing more interviews, serious interviews,” Mitchell stated, explaining that Harris needs to project a more serious image if she hopes to win over skeptical voters, particularly men. “She’s got such a big problem with men. I think there’s an undercount of the Trump vote,” Mitchell warned.
Her remarks suggest that Harris’s campaign has a lot of ground to cover in the short time remaining before the election. Mitchell also pointed out that the skepticism about Harris extends beyond just gender bias, with men from both parties doubting her seriousness on economic matters.
“There’s misogyny in all of this, black and white men. Big problem. But also, the business world doesn’t think she’s serious,” Mitchell explained. The business community, in particular, perceives Harris as lacking in policy gravitas. “They don’t think she’s a heavyweight. A lot of this is gender, but she’s got to be more specific about her economic plans,” she added.
The gender gap is not just about white male voters—Harris has also seen declining support among black men, a crucial constituency for Democrats. Former President Donald Trump has made significant inroads with this demographic, as recent polling data suggests.
A poll conducted by the Howard University Initiative on Public Opinion, held from September 4 to 11, revealed that Harris still commands 75% of support among black voters overall. However, Trump’s share has more than doubled since 2020, increasing from 7% to 16%. The gains are particularly notable among younger black men under 50, where Trump is expected to win 21% of the vote, while Harris holds 72%. Among black men over 50, Harris’s support rises to 88%, but Trump still holds a significant 10%.
This shift underscores a broader issue for Harris as her campaign struggles to connect with a key part of the Democratic base. Trump’s ability to peel away black male voters, who have historically supported Democrats, is a worrying trend for Harris and her team.
The widening gender gap between Harris and Trump is part of a larger national trend. Both parties have seen shifts in their voter coalitions in recent years, with Democrats increasingly relying on women and minority voters, while Republicans have gained ground among working-class voters, particularly men.
Recent polling data from the New York Times/Siena College shows this trend clearly in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. Women in the state favor Harris over Trump by a margin of 55% to 41%. However, the opposite is true for men, where Trump leads with 52% support compared to Harris’s 39%.
These numbers reveal the challenge Harris faces in closing the gender gap, not just with white men, but also with men across different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The ability to bridge this divide could be essential for her campaign’s success.
Even Harris’s husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, has weighed in on her struggle with male voters. Last week, Emhoff appeared on MSNBC in an interview with former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, during which a clip from the conversation went viral. In it, Emhoff spoke candidly about the gendered challenges Harris has faced throughout her political career. While his comments brought attention to the issue, they also underscored the uphill battle Harris faces in winning over skeptical male voters.
Emhoff’s remarks, combined with Mitchell’s analysis, reflect a growing recognition within Harris’s campaign that addressing this gender gap is critical as the election approaches.
With less than a month until Election Day, Harris’s campaign is under increasing pressure to appeal to male voters. The gender gap between her and Trump is more than just a polling anomaly—it represents a potential hurdle that could determine the election’s outcome.
Harris’s team is likely to focus on addressing the concerns raised by men, particularly in the business community, where her perceived lack of economic expertise has hurt her. If Harris can present more concrete policy proposals and convince male voters that she is serious about addressing their concerns, she may be able to narrow the gap.
However, with Trump continuing to make gains among key Democratic demographics, particularly younger black men, the challenge will not be an easy one.
As Election Day draws closer, Harris’s ability to connect with male voters—whether through more focused messaging or policy engagement—could be the key to whether she can maintain her lead in the polls or whether Trump’s appeal to these voters will shift the balance in his favor.