Gender divide and media endorsements shape U.S. election battleground
Tens of millions of Americans will vote for Donald Trump. Some will do it with regret, while others will be filled with pride, reports The Economist. The American media, during the elections, will primarily focus on the Republican candidate, who polarizes society.
According to a survey conducted by NBC in the week before the elections, 57% of women will vote for Kamala Harris and 58% of men for Donald Trump. American media emphasizes how important support based on gender will be for both candidates.
"Financial Times" reminds us that Harris could become the first female president of the United States. "Women flock to her," among other reasons, due to her fight for abortion rights. In this context, the British newspaper cites the words of 58-year-old Deborah Matlock, an analyst at a logistics company, who attended one of Harris's rallies in Michigan. Matlock waited three hours to see the Democratic candidate and hear her speech. In a conversation with "FT," she admitted that she was thinking about her daughters. "They need the right to abortion. They need women's healthcare," she explained. Harris is supported by music stars like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, so the current vice president will likely gain even more votes.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, is against the liberalization of abortion rights, and his message is mainly directed at men. "Trump has exploited male fears and resentments, as well as traditional worries about immigration and the economy. He also presented himself as someone sharing their interests, from golf to UFC (mixed martial arts organization - editor's note)," reads "FT."
According to Republican voters, Trump is bringing the USA back on track, especially in the economy. "It's a spark, a hyena that keeps laughing," said 72-year-old Tommy Brown about Kamala Harris. The former car mechanic, who worked in Afghanistan, supports Trump.
Elections in the USA: Media endorsements
It's the former president who is the media hero, in a positive or negative sense. "The Economist," which officially endorsed Kamala Harris, writes about the "unacceptable risk" associated with Trump's second term. It should be added that in Anglo-Saxon media, official endorsement of a given candidate is not unusual - endorsements are given by the opinion section of the newspaper, whose role is to assess current events.
The information sections of newspapers distance themselves from these practices and, in theory, aim to provide readers with reliable information. Kamala Harris is also endorsed by "The New York Times," while "The Washington Post" withdrew its endorsement for any of the candidates at the last minute, a decision made by Jeff Bezos. The billionaire is not only the owner of Amazon but also "The Washington Post." In response to Bezos's decision, who probably didn't want to fall out of favor with Trump should he win the election, some journalists left their jobs, and 200,000 readers canceled their subscriptions. Bezos and his company Blue Origin, focusing on space exploration, compete for contracts with Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Donald Trump has been endorsed, among others, by the tabloid "The New York Post."
"Tens of millions of Americans will vote for Donald Trump. Some will do it with regret because they believe Kamala Harris is a radical Marxist who will destroy their country. Some are filled with national pride because Trump makes them believe that with him in the White House, America will stand on its own feet. Others will make a cold, calculated decision to vote for Trump as a calculated risk," claims "The Economist."
"The Economist" adds that "Trump behaved appallingly," inciting the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. It is noted, however, that American institutions survived, but a second time might not be successful.
"Trump's policy is worse, the world is more dangerous, and many sober, responsible people who curbed his worst instincts during his first term have been replaced by true believers," it reads. On the other hand, Harris may not be an outstanding president, but "she won't lead to disaster."
"The New Yorker," which features the Statue of Liberty walking a tightrope on its cover, believes that Trump is running a "campaign of revenge" that will continue regardless of the election outcome. The magazine highlights the importance of the words spoken by the Republican during the last rally in Pennsylvania. Trump confessed that he should not have left the White House in 2020. "On the day I left, we had the safest border in our country's history. I shouldn't have left, I mean it seriously," he assessed.
On the other side of the aisle is the aforementioned "New York Post." The newspaper bets on Trump primarily for economic reasons. The Republican is expected to "knock out" Harris in this aspect.
