October 11 :
With just over a month to go until the US presidential election, which is hanging by a thread, the campaigns are focusing all of their energy on the small fraction of the public that has not yet made up their mind. Some people are still trying to decide between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, even though most people have already made up their minds.
These voters "find it difficult to make a decision. "They aren't rushed and they despise both main presidential candidates equally," said Rich Thau of the consultancy Engagious. Thau has been conducting focus groups in seven states that are considered to be presidential election battlegrounds: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. These states are expected to make a decision in November.
A swing voter is someone who voted for both Republican Trump and Democrat Joe Biden in the past; all of their recruits fall into this category. Every month, Engagious convenes a diverse group of state residents via Zoom for a moderated discussion on the pressing issues facing that state.
Thanks to these chats, Thau and his coworkers have a far better understanding of the voters' thoughts and feelings over the next election.
This encompasses their sentiments over the seismic event of Biden's retirement and Harris's subsequent ascension to the position of Democratic presidential nominee in July. "They're forced to choose between someone they don't like and someone they don't know very well," according to him.
That is the exact way Lisa, who is 55 years old, feels. Like other focus group members, the insurance broker spoke only by her given name when she expressed her frustration with the media. Regarding the economy, which she believes improved during his presidency, she has more faith in Trump; but, she is concerned about his personality and demeanor.
She expressed concern that he may seek revenge on those he felt had wronged him, including Stormy Daniels and the others he had previously tarnished, and that he would sow discord and bigotry towards marginalized communities, racists, and specific faiths.
Conversely, she views Harris's stance on abortion rights as problematic due to her strong religious values. She expressed her struggle with the subject matter during her recent address to a focus group in Pennsylvania. Bob, a 45-year-old resident of the state, expressed his lack of familiarity with Harris's identity.
In her heart, I have no idea what she thinks about anything. "I am not sure," he stated. "She was a good prosecutor and she did a couple of things as attorney general (of California), but it doesn't really help me get a sense of what she can do for the whole country in general."
A 41-year-old lady named Glenda indicated that she was leaning toward supporting Harris right now, but she still had her doubts. She spoke out, asking, "Is she going to keep her promises?" before continuing, "I'm leaning, but I'm not there yet."... Is she going to be unwavering? That's my main concern.
Though she acknowledges that Harris's position on abortion rights is important, she believes that it will not be the sole factor in her decision-making process as a woman. Concerning Trump, she has serious reservations about his environmental plans. Concerning climate change, I am really concerned. While he was president, he made it clear that he believed it to be a myth.
Greg, a swing voter, expressed concern that Trump lacks genuine beliefs. A man "can be very irrational at times with his speech, with his positions, with his actions, and also he's easily influenced and can be swayed," he said. However, in his opinion, Harris has been forced into the contest without any form of public backing. She did not receive the Democratic Party's presidential nomination from her district. He criticized the move, calling it "very undemocratic" that she was placed in that position.
He also doubts Harris's qualifications, even though she has more than three years of experience as the deputy to a sitting president. "What scares me about her is her lack of experience at a position like the presidency," remarked the president. This election, in Lisa's view, is a lost chance for more qualified candidates in the insurance agent position. Even if I have to cast my ballot, I really hope we can improve, she expressed.
