Debate could make Trump’s 'double-digit' deficit with women even worse — here’s why

Many of the national and battleground states polls released in early September are showing a very close presidential race in the United States.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris leads Republican former President Donald Trump by 3 percent in a national Morning Consult poll and by 2 percent in a national Emerson College poll, while a New York Times/Siena College poll finds Trump ahead of her by 1 percent.

Polls also show the race to be quite competitive in key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada and Georgia.

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Those polls include both male and female voters. But among women voters, Harris is ahead by double digits. A New York Times/Siena College poll released on September 8 found Harris with an 11 percent advantage among women.

In an article published by Politico on September 10, reporters Meridith McGraw, Myah Ward, Christopher Cadelago and Elena Schneider stress that Trump is going into his first presidential debate with Harris with a deficit among female voters — and his debate performance could make things either better or worse for him.

"Former President Donald Trump is already underwater by double digits with female voters in the polls," the Politico journalists explain. "Now, Trump will stand on stage next to a woman he has publicly and privately derided in language widely viewed as sexist. His allies hope he doesn't make things worse when he squares off against Vice President Kamala Harris at the debate."

The reporters add, "In past debates against Hillary Clinton, Trump tried to undermine, belittle or humiliate both her and female debate moderators. This time, his advisers have pushed him to focus on Harris' record and try not to let her get under his skin."

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Whether Trump will follow or ignore that advice during the debate — which will be hosted by ABC News at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia — remains to be seen.

A GOP source described as someone "close to the former president" told Politico, "She's going to try to bait him. I mean, the lines are almost predictable, right? So the question is: does he take it or not?"

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Read Politico's full report at this link.