Former President Donald Trump’s speech at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City was met with a mix of applause and boos as he attacked Vice President Kamala Harris and others. The Al Smith dinner is a highlight of the election campaign where politicians from both sides of the aisle come together to trade good-natured jabs and raise funds for women and children in need. During his speech, Trump claimed to be “leading big” among Catholic voters, but this claim is not entirely supported by available data.
While some polls show Trump leading among Catholic voters, it is not accurate to say he is leading in “all polls” as he claimed. For example, a recent poll in seven battleground states showed Trump ahead by five percentage points among Catholic voters, but Harris had significant leads among Black and Hispanic Catholics. Another poll showed a lead of five percentage points among Catholic respondents overall, but the results varied significantly among different subgroups. Additionally, data suggests Trump’s lead among Catholics may have declined since President Joe Biden stood down as the Democratic presidential candidate.
In mid-September, Pope Francis criticized both Trump and Harris over their policies on abortion and migration, stating that both were “against life.” The Pope’s comments highlight the importance of issues such as abortion and migration to Catholic voters, which may influence their decision on who to support in the upcoming election. While Trump may have some advantage among Catholic voters, the significance of this lead is debatable and depends on interpretation of the available data.
Overall, Trump’s speech at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner sparked controversy and mixed reactions as he claimed to be leading among Catholic voters. While some polls support this claim, others show different results and suggest that Harris has a significant lead among certain subgroups of Catholic voters. The speech also drew attention to the importance of key issues such as abortion and migration to Catholic voters, as highlighted by Pope Francis’ comments on the candidates’ policies. In conclusion, Trump’s assertion of a “big” lead among Catholic voters lacks definitive evidence and requires further context and analysis.
