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WOMEN will be key if Donald Trump returns to the White House due to the razor-thin margins in the US Presidential race, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
Working-class white women are critical voters who may swing the polls in favour of the ex-President, despite his rival Kamala Harris being poised to make history by becoming America’s first female leader.
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When Trump stunned the world by defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016, 47 per cent of white women voted for him, while 45 per cent backed the former US Secretary of State.
According to exit polls, Trump had just 42 per cent of the female vote when he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.
But now some believe history could repeat itself, with Trump wooing more white, female voters for a second time in the Presidential race.
These women are the major demographic of key swing states Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin which make up Kamala’s most likely route to election victory.
Experts say these key voters are torn between disdain for Trump and dissatisfaction with President Biden’s Presidency, particularly over immigration and the cost of living.
At a recent Trump rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania — Biden’s hometown — artist Dorina Amendola waved a white flag emblazoned with: “Trump 2024 — No More Bulls**t”
Dorina, in her 30s, said: “I’m a first-generation college student.
“My dad is an Italian immigrant and my mum is a third-generation Slavic coal miner’s granddaughter.
“The Democratic Party used to be for the working class — that’s what the myth was anyway.”
Dorina, who graduated in chemistry from Ivy League Princeton University, added: “We had a family restaurant — we saw the value of President Trump in office through our customers and through our sales versus when President Biden got in.
“We’ve seen how the gasoline prices skyrocketed and that ruined the supply chain.
“People who own small businesses are behind Trump.”
Also at the rally, first-time voter Fiona Dolan, 19, revealed she is backing Trump citing: “Immigration, the military and money.”
The student said she is worried about people arriving illegally over the Southern US border “taking our jobs and bringing drugs over”.
Her friend Madeleine Semerr, also 19 and wearing a red Make America Great Again cap, added: “The border crossings are absolutely ridiculous.
“When Trump was President everything was much more controlled.”
Grandmother Lori Jean, 77, also said she has no time for Harris.
Leaning against a monster Jeep, she insisted: “She’s not up to par.
“She just doesn’t have the experience.
“We are very afraid if she gets in.
“She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
‘CRUCIAL FEMALE VOTE’
Since 2022, abortion has become a major election issue after the US supreme court overturned the nationwide right to an abortion.
States were given the power to come up with their own regulations.
Trump has taken credit for the ban, saying: “I did a great service.”
Recently he’s been more nuanced, saying some states that are restricting abortion rights are being “too tough” and called for their laws to be rolled back.
Democrats have argued that the Trump-appointed judges on the Supreme Court voting to overturn national abortion rights also raised the possibility of a challenge to IVF.
Harris wants to restore national abortion rights, calling the current situation “heartbreaking”.
Her campaign believes the issue can win over women voters.
Yet Lori has not been swayed.
In her Stars & Stripes Stetson, she added: “I don’t believe in killing babies.”
Patrick Basham, founder of the Democracy Institute in Washington, believes that who ultimately wins these women’s votes will be the next President of the States.
He said: “Winning the female vote is crucial.
‘BETTER UNDER TRUMP’
“Kamala hasn’t been able to stop the loss of young, working-class women, especially Hispanic and white working class — the boomers — who are either dropping out from voting or going to Trump.
“It’s about quality of life and standard of living.
“They remember it was better under Trump.”
Hillary Clinton was divisive, he reckons — and Kamala is too.
Patrick added: “Clinton appealed to a whole bunch of women but also turned off a lot of them too.
“She was loved and hated among men and women.
“Grandpa Joe in 2020 could maintain this kindly image and said he would offer a calm change from Trump.
“In 2024 Kamala is this boss girl who is very woke, very correct, but she’s not for everyone in terms of personality and background.
“There’s not as much for female voters to grab on to.
“She may tick boxes, but Democrats have been so focused on identity they overlooked personality.
‘DECIDING VOTE’
“You’re going to have a really strong vote for Kamala among middle and upper-class women.
“She’s going to hold on to black women.
“But the working-class, blue-collar vote and white female vote will drift to Trump.”
Current polling has Trump and Harris locked in a virtual dead heat in bellwether Pennsylvania.
Yet, come November 5, it is likely these women will cast the deciding vote.
CLASS COUNTS
By Katie PruszynskI University of Sheffield
IN 2016 and 2020, two-thirds of white working-class women voted for Trump.
They were key to his victory against Hillary Clinton despite accusations of his misogyny and abusive behaviour.
Trump told a compelling story of white, working-class Americans being looked down on and left behind by a Democrat political elite.
It’s arguable that Clinton simply did not take the threat of this narrative seriously.
Trump cast himself as a champion of those women, their families and their way of life.
And he continues to lead with this group of women over Kamala Harris.
White working-class women are more likely to be socially conservative than those who are college educated.
They are also more likely to vote in line with their husband’s or parents’ choice.
Is America ready for a woman president?
It may well be that they don’t have to find out just yet.
