This Number Helps Explain Why Trump’s Doing So Well With Dudes

The numbers: There’s a big partisan divide when it comes to male identity, with just 29% of Democratic men describing themselves as “highly masculine,” compared to 53% of Republicans, per a new Pew Research Center poll. (The Hill)

• According to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll Donald Trump is leading Kamala Harris by 11 points among men (53% to 42%), which is even better than his margins with dudes in 2016 and 2020.

Context: Politics is increasingly centered around gender issues, with debates about “toxic masculinity,” men being left behind socially and economically, and a widening gap between men and women at the ballot box.

Bubba’s Two Cents

Speaking as a guy, it’s hard to overstate just how awkward and phony the Harris-Walz campaign’s attempts at male outreach have come off, and that might explain why men are drifting away from Harris. On the other hand, love him or hate him, I think Trump’s media strategy (appearing on bro-friendly podcasts like “This Past Weekend w/Theo Von,” “Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant” and Barstool Sports’ “Bussin’ With the Boys”) shows he’s clearly got a finger on the pulse of guy culture.

The flip side: Harris is doing a lot better with women voters, who tend to turn out in greater numbers than men (There were 7.2 million more women registered to vote in 2022).