How apathetic voters helped win Trump the election

In a highly-polarized political climate, it's likely no surprise that exit polls show only 2 percent of the electorate had a favorable view of both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Election Day.

What's more shocking, though, is exit polls show majority of voters with an unfavorable opinion of both major candidates sided with Trump over Clinton. In key battleground states, this boost from "neither" voters was enough to win Trump the election.

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According to Edison Research exit poll data, 41 percent of voters were favorable to the Democratic presidential nominee and 36 percent were favorable to Trump. However, 18 percent of the voting electorate said they had an unfavorable opinion of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. That's 1-in-5 voters who participated in the 2016 general election without favoring one of the two major presidential candidates.

This 1-in-5 voter is the demographic that broke strongly for Trump, 49 percent to 29 percent.

After the most contentious, hotly-contested campaign season in modern US history, one could argue an abnormally apathetic electorate was relatively expected -- and it was abnormal. The percentage of "neither" voters in the 2016 election doubled since 2012, when only 9 percent of voters were unfavorable to both candidates.

Looking at how "neithers" voted in swing states, it becomes clear just how critical these voters were in Trump's winning. In Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida and North Carolina -- all key battleground states -- the votes Trump gained from apathetic voters were greater than his total margin in these states.

In Florida, where 14 percent of voters were "neithers," 61 percent of them voted for Trump where 24 percent of them voted for Clinton.

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It's important to note other demographic descriptors of "neither" voters. This 18 percent of the electorate is 61 percent more likely to be male. According to CNN polls, Trump won 53 percent of the male vote this election. Where Clinton led by 12 percentage points among women and Trump led by the same among men, it is assumed to be the largest election gender gap in more than 60 years.

Leading up to Election Day, the phrase "lesser of two evils" was thrown around a lot by voters who felt they didn't have a viable option in presidential candidates to support. As President-elect Trump prepares for life in the Oval Office, he is also faced with the task of winning over the Americans who didn't find him favorable as a presidential candidate -- including the ones that voted for him.

BY CHRISTINA GREGG