A New Republic article on political leaders’ lopsided focus on disaffected young male voters cited Martin Gilens, UCLA Luskin professor of public policy, social welfare and political science.

The article argued that Democrats’ obsession with reaching young men is increasingly irrelevant in an economy where a diverse array of demographic groups are struggling to secure a job and pay the rent.

“The economy played a huge role with young men as it did with young women and with voters in general,” Gilens said. “But in particular, young people are going to be less tied to a political party. They have less history of politics and electoral outcomes to draw on.”

In general, presidents may have modest impacts on the economy because of factors outside their control, he said. But the Trump administration may be an exception, given the heavy hand it has placed on economic policy.

“I think it actually makes sense to attribute a lot of the sort of economic conditions, good or bad, to what the president has done, and so yes, absolutely, if the economy is perceived as being bad, then Trump and Republicans are going to be blamed,” Gilens said.