A recent CNN/ORC poll reveals that Donald Trump has widened his lead among Republican women, increasing his support to 33%—a significant rise from 20% just a month ago.
Trump has continuously defied typical political expectations, winning favor across various demographic groups within the GOP. This trend has left his rivals scrambling to understand his success. Despite former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s assertion that Trump couldn’t insult his way to the White House, Trump’s insult-driven strategy seems to be resonating with voters, as Bush lags far behind at 9% in the polls.
Trump’s improved standing with Republican women comes after a series of high-profile confrontations, including his heated exchange with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, which led to widespread criticism of his remarks about women. Most recently, Trump attracted attention for making disparaging comments about Carly Fiorina, the only female contender in the GOP race, during an interview with Rolling Stone. Referring to her appearance, Trump said, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?”
In response, Fiorina, who has become one of Trump’s vocal critics, dismissed his comments, suggesting that her rise in the polls was perhaps getting under his skin. Fiorina’s polling numbers, however, remain low, with her support among Republican women at just 3%.
Despite the controversy, Trump continued to defend his comments in a later interview, clarifying that his criticism was about Fiorina’s persona, not her looks, and attacked her tenure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard.
Trump has been making an effort to smooth over these issues, aiming to portray himself as a strong advocate for women’s health issues. In a Thursday morning appearance on The View, Trump said, “My daughter and wife say you should speak more about women’s health issues because they know how strongly committed I am.” He also criticized Jeb Bush’s stance on women’s health funding, further emphasizing his position on the issue.
Trump’s blunt, often controversial rhetoric continues to connect with a segment of GOP women, especially those who are frustrated by what they perceive as political correctness. “Trump’s style resonates with women in the Republican Party who feel alienated by mainstream feminism and want someone who will speak directly, even if it means using language that others find offensive,” explained Catherine Rymph, author of Republican Women.
Despite the impact on Democratic voters, Trump’s comments have become a rallying point for the GOP’s internal conflict over gender issues. Democratic figures, including Hillary Clinton, have seized on Trump’s remarks to paint him as out of touch with women’s rights. Clinton criticized Trump’s behavior at a Women for Hillary event, saying, “There is one particular candidate who just seems to delight in insulting women any chance he gets.” The Democratic National Committee has also labeled his comments as misogynistic, dismissing his political credibility.
In contrast, Trump has made clear that his appeal isn’t limited to Republican women but spans a broader base of GOP voters, especially those who support his hardline stance on immigration. A major issue for both men and women in the GOP, immigration is seen as “extremely important” by 52% of Republican women, slightly higher than the 45% of men who share that view.
Trump’s polling numbers have overshadowed those of other Republican candidates. His dominance in the race has left contenders like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker scrambling to respond, even publicly criticizing Trump’s remarks. Walker tweeted, “Trump’s personal attacks against Carly Fiorina are inappropriate and wrong. It’s time for these shameless attacks to end.”
Fiorina, despite her low polling numbers, has positioned herself as a strong challenger to Clinton in the general election, particularly appealing to women voters with a clear stance on progressive issues. However, engaging with Trump’s provocations has had mixed results for her and other GOP candidates, with some suffering from the fallout. Still, some analysts, like Sabrina Schaeffer of the Independent Women’s Forum, argue that Fiorina’s response to Trump could resonate with women who are disillusioned by the left-wing feminist agenda.
Ultimately, Trump’s strategy of bold, often divisive rhetoric seems to continue serving him well, especially among those GOP women who appreciate his unfiltered approach to politics. However, it’s still unclear whether this will be enough to carry him to the White House, especially as his opponents look for ways to counter his unconventional campaign.
