Clinton sees opportunity in swing state doubts on Trump

FILE - In this May 11, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally in Blackwood, N.J. While white voters continue to abandon the Democratic Party, small gains with white women could help put likely nominee Clinton over the top if the November election is close. Democrats believe these women could open up opportunities for Clinton in North Carolina. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) less FILE - In this May 11, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally in Blackwood, N.J. While white voters continue to abandon the Democratic Party, small ... more Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Clinton sees opportunity in swing state doubts on Trump 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — For Donald Trump to win the White House in November, he’ll need the votes of women like lifelong Republican Wendy Emery.

Yet the 52-year-old from the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, is struggling with the idea of voting for her party’s presumptive presidential nominee.

“I’m just disappointed, really disappointed,” she said while standing in her arts and crafts shop. She and her circle of friends are “still in shock” over Trump’s success and wonder who is voting for him, “because we don’t know any of them.”

Emery’s negative impression was shared by most of the dozens of white, suburban women interviewed by the Associated Press this spring in politically important states. Their views are reflected in opinion polls, including a recent AP-GfK survey that found 70 percent of women have unfavorable opinions of Trump.

Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign sees that staggering figure as a tantalizing general election opening.

While white voters continue to abandon the Democratic Party, small gains with white women could help put likely nominee Clinton over the top if the November election is close. Democrats believe these women could open up opportunities for Clinton in North Carolina, where President Obama lost the state narrowly in 2012, and in Georgia, a Republican stronghold that Democrats hope to make competitive.

Patty Funderburg of Charlotte, N.C., voted for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, but says Trump won’t get her vote. “He’s not who I’d want to represent our country,” said the 54-year-old mother of three.

Trump insists he’s “going to do great with women.” He’s accused Clinton of playing the “woman’s card” in her bid to become the first female commander in chief. He’s said he will link her aggressively to past indiscretions with women by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

“Women want, above all else, they want security ... a strong military, they want to have strong borders,” Trump told the AP recently.

Throughout the primary, Clinton has talked about policies important to many women: equal pay, expanded child care, paid family and medical leave, and more.

A super political action committee backing Clinton also released its first television advertisements last week featuring controversial statements Trump has made about women. “Does Donald Trump really speak for you?” the ad asks.

For many women, the answer appears to be no.

“He’s just a jerk,” said Elizabeth Andrus, a registered Republican in Delaware, Ohio.

Even some reluctant Trump supporters say they want him to dial it back and engage more seriously. “It’s time we get past all this showmanship and hear from him what he actually wants to do,” said Renee Herman of Sunbury, Ohio.

Trump’s best opening is that Clinton would also enter a general election campaign with the majority of Americans taking a dim view of her candidacy. Fifty-five percent of Americans have a negative view of Clinton, including 53 percent of women.