CNN's political director highlights a "trouble sign" for Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign, as new polls show her struggling to win over non-college-educated White voters in key battleground states. Conversely, former President Trump maintains a significant lead among this demographic.
The 2024 presidential race is shaping up to be a tight contest, with salient divides among voters along racial and gender lines.
Racial Divide and Gender Gap Emerge in Battleground States as Harris Struggles with White Voters
A recent CNN poll has revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris is facing challenges in appealing to non-college-educated White voters in six battleground states. This demographic has traditionally been a base of support for former President Trump, and the poll suggests that this trend is continuing.
CNN political director David Chalian described the findings as a "trouble sign" for Harris. "If you look at the White voters without college degrees, this is a Trump base constituency, obviously," Chalian said. "You see his huge numbers with this group, you see that this is a trouble sign for Harris."
Racial Divide and Gender Gap Emerge in Battleground States as Harris Struggles with White Voters
Harris also has room for improvement among White college-educated voters, particularly in Georgia. She currently trails Trump among this demographic in that state.
In contrast, Harris enjoys overwhelming support from Black voters in the three states where the poll oversampled: Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Eighty-six percent of Black voters in Michigan support Harris, as do 85% in Georgia and 84% in Pennsylvania.
Racial Divide and Gender Gap Emerge in Battleground States as Harris Struggles with White Voters
"There's still room here for Harris to grow and consolidate the Black vote, which is going to be necessary if she is going to win in places like Georgia and Pennsylvania," Chalian said.
The poll also revealed a significant gender gap in support for the two candidates. Harris holds a 17-percentage point lead among female likely voters in Wisconsin, a 16-point lead in Michigan, and a narrower lead in Arizona.
Racial Divide and Gender Gap Emerge in Battleground States as Harris Struggles with White Voters
"Trump's advantage, very significant with male voters. Eighteen points in Nevada, 15-point advantage in Pennsylvania," Chalian said.
The poll results underscore the challenges facing both campaigns as they navigate the battleground states. Harris must find a way to improve her standing among White voters, while Trump needs to maintain his support among this demographic and expand his appeal to women.
The outcome of the 2024 election will likely hinge on which candidate can effectively address these divides and mobilize their respective base of support.
