Dana Bash argues Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff speak to male voters who are not ‘testosterone-laden’

CNN anchor Dana Bash claimed the Democratic Party is trying to win over male voters who are not ‘testosterone-laden,” and that Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are part of the party’s attempt to reach out to this voting bloc.

Bash’s comment was preceded by an assessment from fellow anchor Jake Tapper, who argued that a majority of women voters are supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in this election, while most male voters are supporting former President Donald Trump. Bash contended that Democrats are trying to bridge this gap among voters with a different strategy from the last time they made a woman their presidential nominee, which was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.

“But they are doing so in trying to put forward male figures, Tim Walz being one of them, Doug Emhoff last night, who can speak to men out there who might not be the sort of testosterone-laden, gun-toting kind of guy who wants to listen to Hulk Hogan and the kind of players that came out at the RNC,” Bash said. “Or might want to listen to that, but also, in addition, understand that it’s OK in 2024 to be a man comfortable in his own skin who supports a woman. And that’s something that they really are trying to work on with male voters beyond the base.”

Fellow CNN anchor Abby Phillip contended that the Democratic Party is displaying “a different version of America” that Republicans had at the Republican National Convention, citing how the RNC had speakers like wrestling icon Hulk Hogan while the DNC will have speakers from Planned Parenthood and LGBT organizations. Phillip added that Democrats have to deal with a “balancing act” of delivering a message of affirmation while appealing to voters who are not fans of Hogan-types but want the party “to speak to them.”

During his DNC speech, Emhoff promoted his wife as a candidate who is “ready to lead” and “a joyful warrior.” Harris is scheduled to accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday, the same day as the couple’s 10-year wedding anniversary, with Emhoff calling their marriage “the best decision I ever made.”

Earlier this month, Emhoff acknowledged to CNN that he had an affair that led to the end of his first marriage. The affair was with one of his daughter’s teachers, and the second gentleman has admitted he and his former wife, Kerstin, “went through some tough times on account of my actions.”

Walz promoted his background as a teacher and football coach during his speech at the DNC, making several coaching jokes as he spoke. He also recounted the struggles he and his wife faced with infertility, calling his family his “entire world.”

Since taking over President Joe Biden’s role as the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential candidate, Harris has seen a spike in support against Trump’s bid for the White House. However, Jen O’Malley Dillon, the chairwoman of Harris’s campaign, cautioned that the election is still a toss-up, acknowledging that Trump “still has more support than he has had at any other point.”