Poll indicates Trump's declining support among women regarding economic issues
An American University poll reveals that a majority of women have more confidence in Harris than Trump when it comes to tackling inflation and reducing the cost of living.
TroibNews 
According to a recent poll, women favor Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump by 15 percentage points, and they appear to be giving her the advantage on one of his traditionally strong issues: the economy.
The American University poll, shared exclusively with PMG, reports that a majority of women trust Harris more than Trump to manage inflation and reduce the cost of living. Specifically, 46 percent prefer Harris for economic issues, compared to 38 percent who favor Trump. Nearly two-thirds of respondents indicated that inflation and the economy are their top concerns as they make voting decisions.
Entering the final month of the campaign, the economy still poses challenges for Democrats. Trump has consistently excelled in how voters perceive his leadership on economic matters, a strength that has become even more evident under President Joe Biden's Democratic ticket. However, Harris has begun to close the gap on Trump’s economic lead since assuming the role of the campaign's top candidate in July.
In the poll, which included responses from over 800 registered female voters in September, participants expressed a more positive outlook on the economy overall. While more than 60 percent of suburban women previously reported feeling pessimistic about economic conditions in both 2023 and 2022, this figure decreased to 40 percent in the latest results. Nonetheless, nearly two-thirds of women indicated that their personal financial situations have worsened in recent years.
Lindsay Vermeyen, who conducted the survey, noted, “Harris has eliminated Trump's advantage on inflation, narrowed it on the economy more generally, and widened that gap with women. It is really indicative of the fact that communications are breaking through, and her appeals to voters, or moderate voters, are starting to break through as well.”
The poll highlights a significant gender gap in the campaign, with Trump performing considerably better among male voters, yet it presents promising news for Democrats aiming to solidify their support from women. Since her emergence as the leading candidate, Harris's favorability ratings among women have risen by 12 points compared to 2023, with 55 percent of those surveyed viewing her positively, while 41 percent have a negative opinion. In contrast, 57 percent of women view Trump unfavorably.
Abortion remains a key issue for women following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, with two-thirds of respondents believing abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Furthermore, 86 percent stated that the government should not interfere in a woman's decision about abortion, with only 14 percent believing it should be illegal.
Interestingly, among Republican women, the poll revealed a notable shift in attitudes toward abortion rights over the past year. Just 12 percent believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, a significant decrease from 24 percent in 2023. Harris benefits from women's general opinions on abortion, securing a considerable lead with 55 percent supporting her on the issue.
While Harris has not heavily emphasized the groundbreaking aspects of her campaign, she has garnered interest among Democratic women, with 90 percent expressing motivation by her candidacy. Even more significantly for her campaign, 70 percent of independent women indicated excitement about the possibility of electing the first woman president. Additionally, two-thirds of all surveyed women believe that the country is “more open” to electing a female president now than in 2016.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
The American University poll, shared exclusively with PMG, reports that a majority of women trust Harris more than Trump to manage inflation and reduce the cost of living. Specifically, 46 percent prefer Harris for economic issues, compared to 38 percent who favor Trump. Nearly two-thirds of respondents indicated that inflation and the economy are their top concerns as they make voting decisions.
Entering the final month of the campaign, the economy still poses challenges for Democrats. Trump has consistently excelled in how voters perceive his leadership on economic matters, a strength that has become even more evident under President Joe Biden's Democratic ticket. However, Harris has begun to close the gap on Trump’s economic lead since assuming the role of the campaign's top candidate in July.
In the poll, which included responses from over 800 registered female voters in September, participants expressed a more positive outlook on the economy overall. While more than 60 percent of suburban women previously reported feeling pessimistic about economic conditions in both 2023 and 2022, this figure decreased to 40 percent in the latest results. Nonetheless, nearly two-thirds of women indicated that their personal financial situations have worsened in recent years.
Lindsay Vermeyen, who conducted the survey, noted, “Harris has eliminated Trump's advantage on inflation, narrowed it on the economy more generally, and widened that gap with women. It is really indicative of the fact that communications are breaking through, and her appeals to voters, or moderate voters, are starting to break through as well.”
The poll highlights a significant gender gap in the campaign, with Trump performing considerably better among male voters, yet it presents promising news for Democrats aiming to solidify their support from women. Since her emergence as the leading candidate, Harris's favorability ratings among women have risen by 12 points compared to 2023, with 55 percent of those surveyed viewing her positively, while 41 percent have a negative opinion. In contrast, 57 percent of women view Trump unfavorably.
Abortion remains a key issue for women following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, with two-thirds of respondents believing abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Furthermore, 86 percent stated that the government should not interfere in a woman's decision about abortion, with only 14 percent believing it should be illegal.
Interestingly, among Republican women, the poll revealed a notable shift in attitudes toward abortion rights over the past year. Just 12 percent believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, a significant decrease from 24 percent in 2023. Harris benefits from women's general opinions on abortion, securing a considerable lead with 55 percent supporting her on the issue.
While Harris has not heavily emphasized the groundbreaking aspects of her campaign, she has garnered interest among Democratic women, with 90 percent expressing motivation by her candidacy. Even more significantly for her campaign, 70 percent of independent women indicated excitement about the possibility of electing the first woman president. Additionally, two-thirds of all surveyed women believe that the country is “more open” to electing a female president now than in 2016.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
