With just days to go before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign is making a targeted push to connect with male voters in battleground states. In a final effort to narrow the gender gap, Harris is launching sports-centered ads aimed specifically at men in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
These ads, designed to resonate with the cities’ unique cultures, are scheduled to air during Sunday and Monday night sporting events, including a prominent spot on Monday Night Football during the Pittsburgh Steelers game. Each ad leans heavily on local pride, with references to sports teams and blue-collar values, seeking to paint Trump as an outsider who doesn’t align with the working-class ethos of these communities.
In Milwaukee, the ad features Doc Rivers, head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and co-chair of “Athletes for Harris,” referencing Trump’s criticisms of the city ahead of the Republican National Convention. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia ad recalls Trump’s dismissive comments about the city during the 2020 presidential debates, with a narrator highlighting Philadelphia’s rebellious spirit: “When you fight us, we fight back…Philly is undefeated.”
In Pittsburgh, the ad brings in a Steelers season ticket holder and maintenance worker named Chris, who openly contrasts his own working-class identity with Trump’s elite upbringing. Chris’s message is clear: Trump, raised with a “silver spoon,” lacks any connection to the everyday struggles of working men. These ads, devoid of overt policy language, focus instead on regional pride and relatable experiences to capture the attention of male voters who may feel disconnected from traditional political messaging.
Alongside these ads, the Harris campaign is engaging male voters through a variety of platforms. Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will join New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday for a live-streamed session playing Madden NFL football on Twitch, tapping into a space popular with younger male voters.
Additionally, Harris has been connecting through interviews with male-focused podcasts like Shannon Sharpe’s, “All the Smoke” with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, and an interview with Charlamagne Tha God. The aim is to use media that resonates with men, including younger and less politically engaged audiences, as polling has shown significant gender and age disparities in support for Harris.
A recent Harvard Youth Poll revealed that while Harris leads Trump by 47% among women under 30, she holds only a 17-point lead among men under 30. In response, Harris’s campaign has intensified its appeal to male voters, stressing that issues traditionally tied to female voter bases, like reproductive health, also hold significant stakes for men.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama emphasized this during a campaign stop in Michigan, urging men to consider the impact of reproductive health access on the lives of women they care about. “Please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us,” Obama told the audience in Kalamazoo, warning male voters that a vote for Trump could jeopardize the well-being of women across the nation.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has also made a noticeable play for male voters, with Trump himself appearing on sports radio shows and podcasts popular among men, including an interview with Joe Rogan. While Harris’s campaign has reportedly reached out to Rogan, an interview has not yet been scheduled. With both sides vying for this key demographic, Harris’s final push leverages sports culture and community pride as vehicles to bring men to the polls, hoping to bridge the gap in the race’s closing days.
