Renowned for embodying the prototypical American cowboy, ‘The Big Lebowski’ and ‘A Star is Born’ actor Sam Elliott lends his voice to a new political ad. Not just any advertisement, however, this is one engineered by The Lincoln Project, a group revealing itself as prior anti-Trump Republicans now aligned with the pro-democracy cohort. Their new creation utilizes Elliott’s gruff appeal to encourage the electorate towards a woman’s bid for presidency, painting Vice President Kamala Harris in supernaturally brave, honorable, and gallant light, throwing direct contrast to former President Donald Trump. Seemingly oblivious to the laughing stock it could potentially become, Elliott’s monologue concludes with ‘What the hell are you waiting for… if it’s the woman thing, it’s time to get over that.’
Does American politics have a gender bias emerging? Seemingly so, if examining closely the narratives surrounding Kamala Harris’s campaign. Her ascension to the position of nominee arrives as the backdrop of President Joe Biden withdrawing his name from the electoral race. Singularly striking about this course of events is the allocation of ‘abortion access’ as a central rallying point among the Democratic-aligned women, despite the worldview of countless Americans firmly rooted against such an issue.
A glance at history would reveal this isn’t the first time the nation finds itself at the crossroads of electing its maiden female president. However, one has to wonder if America is really ready for this change or if it’s only Harris and her supporters who perceive this as the ‘courageous’ move. Conversely, the Trump campaign has taken a distinct approach, turning its attentions towards capturing the imaginations of young male voters, a demographic often overlooked but nonetheless potent in shaping the electoral landscape.
Beyond the typical political stances, the Trump camp has managed to resonate with this younger demographic through a myriad of appearances with influential figures and their declared support for Bitcoin, an asset hugely popular amongst young white men. By doing so, they’ve been able to strike a chord with a demographic whose preferences tend to be overlooked otherwise.
Deviating from the norm, Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance found himself at the center of controversy for his dismissive remarks about ‘childless cat ladies.’ This unflattering image constructed by Vance seems to be a clumsy attempt to create a contrast with the more familial imaginations surrounding his Democratic counterpart Tim Walz.
Tim Walz has been seen playing the card of the quintessential all-American dad, presumably to contrast himself positively against Vice President Kamala Harris. The husband of Harris, Doug Emhoff, however, has set aside his professional pursuits to engage in his spouse’s campaign, furthering laying emphasis on the gender theme.
Public opinions and support appear to be divided sharply along gender lines. An examination of the polling data reveals a seemingly sizeable gender gap in candidate support, with Harris dominating among women and Trump prevailing among men. This has merely intensified among younger voters who seem more inclined to cast their votes along gender preferences.
The women voter base, historically known to participate more actively in the electoral process, seems to be the primary canvassing target for the Harris campaign, while the Trump team strategically focuses on young men. Amidst these unfolding dynamics, the question that subtly hangs in the balance of this circus-imbued pantomime is whether the electoral battle has truly become a question of gender machismo or if we are still questioning the merits of political ideology and capability.