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 As Trump and Clinton, fresh off big wins in Northeastern state
primaries on Tuesday, circle each other for a potential matchup in
the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election, his comments portended what
could be a nasty campaign.
Trump's remarks, while appearing to break a taboo against gender
stereotypes, energized Democrats.
"Keep talking, Donald Trump, keep talking," Democratic Committee
National Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz told CNN. "Every single
day when Donald Trump opens his mouth, he does more to alienate
women."
Trump has consistently polled poorly with women. Democrats and
Republicans both accuse Trump of sexism over his verbal attacks on
Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and on former Republican presidential
candidate Carly Fiorina, whose looks Trump insulted.
 On Wednesday, Trump's closest Republican rival, U.S. Senator Ted
Cruz of Texas, announced that he was choosing Fiorina as his running
mate should he win the Republican nomination.
But U.S. Representative Renee Ellmers of North Carolina said she
believed Trump could overcome his unpopularity with women voters
with straight talk and a plan of action.
"This is an election unlike any other election," Ellmers said. "To
me, this is breaking all the rules, this is going against any of the
typical history books and elections of the past."
Trump's top aide and other supporters said the focus on Clinton’s
gender was part of Trump’s emerging strategy for the general
election and that he had no intention of hewing to traditional rules
of political campaigns.
“When he is attacked, he will respond,” Trump’s campaign manager
Corey Lewandowski told Reuters in an interview. “The campaign is
going to proceed under the mantra, which we’ve had in this campaign
from Day One, which is: Let Mr. Trump be Mr. Trump.”
A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month showed a big gender gap for Trump.
About two-thirds of women have an unfavorable view of the
billionaire businessman. By contrast, 54 percent of men had a
negative view of Trump - a high number but significantly lower than
the negative views among women.
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GEARING FOR A FIGHT
In taking aim at Trump's comments, Clinton appeared to be relishing
the fight.
"Well if fighting for women's healthcare and paid family leave and
equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in," she said in a
victory speech in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Clinton has in her political career at times benefited from missteps
by male candidates. Her 2000 U.S. Senate rival, New York Republican
Rick Lazio, came off as a bully when he stepped close to her on
stage during a debate to demand she sign a pledge.
Early in her first presidential campaign in 2008, Clinton accused
her male opponents of "piling on" and said that would prompt more
women to support her. Then-Senator Barack Obama's comments during a
presidential debate in New Hampshire that year that she was "likable
enough” was seen as a factor in helping her win the state's primary.
If Trump wins the nomination, his willingness to raise Clinton's
gender and other issue could make for one of the most contentious
general election campaigns in recent history.
"I don't think there's going to be any taboos with Donald Trump,"
said James Pethokoukis, a scholar with the conservative American
Enterprise Institute. "He's not going to treat her with any sort of
kid gloves."
(Additional reporting by Chris Kahn and Ginger Gibson; Editing by
Caren Bohan and Peter Cooney)
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