What’s making you lean toward Trump? What’s making you lean
toward Trump?
Amy, 51, white, S.C.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nev.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa
There may still be a contest for the Republican presidential nomination underway — the Iowa caucuses aren’t until Jan. 15 — but to say it is Donald Trump’s to lose is an understatement. For many if not most Republican primary voters, Mr. Trump is the equivalent of an incumbent president (and to some, he still is president). Incumbents generally get renominated with ease. But are there ways for another candidate to give him a real race?
For our focus group with 11 Republican primary voters, we wanted to hear from people who are leaning toward Mr. Trump but who said they were open to voting for another candidate. We wanted to try to better understand the former president’s strengths in this race and where he might be vulnerable. Several members of the group had positive things to say about Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and some of the other candidates. But the group was most revealing about how, even as they were somewhat ambivalent about aspects of Mr. Trump’s conduct and record, there was a deep bond with him and with his style of leadership. These Republicans are drawn to the idea of disruptive leaders who shake up the system (a couple of them quite liked Robert F. Kennedy Jr.), and several of them favored following gut instinct and upsetting people from time to time as leadership traits.
So far, the other Republican candidates for president aren’t breaking through. They’re failing to give these voters reasons to pass on Mr. Trump’s candidacy. The other candidates’ collective strategy thus far of taking some swipes at Mr. Trump while making cases for themselves hasn’t been enough against a recent former president. And how do you attack and beat Mr. Trump when so few Republicans — including these 11 — want to see Mr. Trump attacked? The group made some suggestions for how to appeal to them and called out dimensions of Mr. Trump that they don’t like. Most of all, it came down to appealing to voters’ heads over their hearts: making a powerful, memorable, sustained case for why it was time to move on from Mr. Trump, a man they still have great affection for.
Participants
Amy 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
Jeff 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
Jennifer 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Carol 69, white, Iowa, consultant
Joanna 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
Erin 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
Clark 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
Ansari 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
Anna 35, white, California, proposal specialist
Susan 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Cristian 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
Transcript
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Is there anything that makes you feel optimistic about the country these days? It doesn’t have to be political.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
Work is going great for me. I live a pretty healthy lifestyle. In terms of political things, most of what comes to my mind is pretty pessimistic.
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
I feel optimistic about my family. But in general, we’re kind of going through some scary times, with all the things going on in the news and people’s reactions and people’s agendas.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What worries you most about the country?
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
I have small children. So I’m concerned about gun violence and school shootings.
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
Yeah, I’m worried about increased violence and a greater sense of scarcity. You’re working more, but less money is coming in.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Just the cost of everything. I don’t know how people with young kids feed their families.
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
The cost of living is not consistent with wages anymore. It changes the way we shop. It changes the extra things that we might do, the vacations that we were thinking about planning.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
There’s no money coming in to the average American, while companies are making record profits.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
It’s hard to get a true story from any source. And I think the few are leading the masses with their intentions at hand and not ours.
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
I’m worried about the cost of living and about immigration.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Has that affected you personally, immigration?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Yes and no. I live close to New York City, and I’m extremely hesitant to go there because of what’s occurring in the city.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What’s one word you’d use to describe how you feel about the coming presidential election?
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
Concerned.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
What crap’s going to get pulled between now and then?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Disgusted.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Uncertain.
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
Nervous.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
Saddened.
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
Unsure.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
Nightmare.
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
Interesting.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
Fearful.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Clark, you said “saddened.” Why?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
I was in school during the 2016 election. Ever since then, the choices have been awful. It’s a sad point that we’ve come to in American politics when there are no good choices.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Erin, you said “nervous.”
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
Will I make the right choice? You just don’t know who to trust.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Joanna, you said “unsure.”
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
How will it turn out once I vote for either candidate? What’s going to come afterward?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Carol, what makes you fearful?
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
There seems to be so much dissent. I’m concerned about hidden agendas, and I believe there’s a lot of corruption in the country. And I don’t know how that’s going to play out in the elections.
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
It’s entertaining to me. It all feels like a big TV show. Is somebody going to do something to get Trump indicted again? Or what’s going on with Joe Biden and his son and all of this? What’s going to happen next?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Cristian, I think you said “nightmare.”
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
Career politicians have created a dystopian world, and it doesn’t matter who we vote for — left, right, middle. We’re dividing ourselves amongst people fighting over small things while they’re getting richer. They get more powerful, and that’s the nightmare.
safer or more dangerous than it was at the
end of the Obama presidency? Do you think America today is
safer or more dangerous
than it was at the end of the
Obama presidency?
Ansari,
25, Black, Wis.
Amy,
51, white, S.C.
Jeff,
65, white, S.C.
Jennifer,
48, white, S.C.
Carol,
69, white, Iowa
Joanna,
37, biracial, Nev.
Erin,
49, white, Iowa
Clark,
24, white, N.H.
Anna,
35, white, Calif.
Susan,
57, Latina, N.Y.
Cristian,
35, multiracial, Nev.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Ansari, tell me why you said “safer.”
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
I’m from Chicago. In 2016 there was a lot more violence going on.
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Speaking from my perspective, they’re protecting the criminals more than the common citizen. I don’t see huge violence, but I do see theft. Cars being stolen, catalytic converters being stolen.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Has that impacted you or your family personally?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Me, personally, no. But I almost feel like it’s a matter of time.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you think could make America safer?
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
We have to start at the lowest common denominator, education. Children need to be held accountable. They need to learn responsibility, be liable for what they do. A lot of children are growing up with no consequences. They can do whatever they want. We need to get the children back into some sort of discipline program.
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
We’re raising kids that are much softer than we were, than our parents were. And that’s where it’s all kind of rooting from. I’m in between two places, San Francisco and Atlanta. In San Francisco you can’t leave anything in your car. In Georgia there’s theft all the time. I’ve witnessed theft at a store. My uncle’s car got stolen.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
I think we’ve got laws on the books, and I think we need to enforce them. There need to be consequences to these actions.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
For me, I’d say, rehabilitation. I live in New Hampshire, and opioid abuse is massive here. Instead of criminalizing people that own and/or buy and use drugs, there needs to be a better way to rehabilitate them. And that goes the same with criminals in general.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
With the situation between Israel and Gaza, does it make you feel personally less safe or think about the world as a more dangerous place?
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
I have a son in the military. He’s actually overseas right now. I’m scared to death that he’s going to have to go in and get people out.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
I’m concerned because it feels like the mob is ruling all over. And I’m concerned that people don’t understand what has happened in history and how that relates to how we go about trying to do an election or civics, how our government operates.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
The war in Ukraine is now almost two years old. Do any of you feel that the situation in Ukraine and with Russia makes you feel personally less safe?
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
I mean, so I am from a former part of Russia, and I’m also Jewish. I’m very affected by everything that’s going on. I think we’re allowing all these wars in the world. And so it makes me feel very unsafe here. Because what’s to say that it’s not going to happen here?
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
I’m never really sure what the real story is with these wars. Half of me thinks it’s a distraction from what’s really going on. I think there’s likely some very nefarious things going on behind the scenes.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
I know everyone felt like he was crass and brazen in his speech and speaking, but I felt a whole lot safer with our past president.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Do others feel the same way?
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
Yes.
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Absolutely.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Susan, do you want to speak to that?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
I totally agree with Amy. Even though I didn’t care for Trump’s approach, I felt as though he cared about the well-being of our country. Every politician is self-serving. I think he had his self-serving purposes, but he really cared about what was going on. Now I don’t feel that at all.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Is there anybody else besides Trump who you think, “If they were in charge, I might feel safer”?
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
DeSantis or maybe — oh, I’m going to butcher his name — Vaswani?
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Ramaswamy.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Yeah. I would say DeSantis would be one of the top ones. Because I feel like he wants to fix the problems, the criminal stuff and things like that. I feel like he’d be a lot tougher than others.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
We’ve talked a lot about foreign policy and security. I want to talk a little bit about the economy. And I want to do this as another show of hands real quick.
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
I think the economy, health care, all of those things — excuse me — kind of speak for themselves. They weren’t great at the end of Obama’s presidency, but they’re 10 times worse now.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Cristian, why was the progress that you might think Trump made undone under Biden?
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
The problem is the executive overreach and the executive documents and orders Biden signed straight off the bat. He made it his personal agenda to undo everything without thinking of the consequences. And now we’re living the consequences. I’m not saying everything he did was wrong. I’m just saying he should have thought this through better.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What are the qualities you think would make a good president of the United States?
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
Honesty.
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
Transparency.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
Integrity and the confidence to talk without a teleprompter in your ear.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
I like the business skills, but that’s got to be coupled with following the Constitution and getting back to constitutional law.
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
Honesty.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
Churchill.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
Fearful.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
Integrity.
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
Strong decision maker.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Someone who listens to the people.
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Honesty and boldness. They have to make decisions that are right for the country but that may not be favorable decisions.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Jeff, tell me about “fearful.”
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
There was a lot of negative stuff about Trump. But the one thing I think he did in dealing internationally is they thought he was a crazy man. And they were kind of afraid that he was actually going to do something, rather than to provide lip service and do nothing.
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
I said “honesty.” I want somebody to tell us like it is, not sugarcoat things, not hide things, just come out and just say it.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
I want to feel confident that there’s not backdoor deals going on that are lining their personal pockets and their child’s pockets.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
So in this specific race, the Republican primaries, what are you looking for most in a candidate as you decide who to vote for?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
I think having a president who’s not 100 years old is also something to look for. Someone who’s not going to die while they’re the incumbent.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
Honestly, I just wish Robert F. Kennedy would be a Republican nominee. He’s running as an independent. But he sounds Republican at heart.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
So you all voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primaries and in 2020. We’ve talked a little bit about the things that you missed about Donald Trump’s time as president. I want to ask the flip side. Is there anything that you don’t really miss about that time?
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
The circus. He’s a circus clown. He does get things done. But the annoyance of mass media and social media and all of that is extremely annoying.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Yeah. I agree. But it’s also all the people that just want to try and find anything they can to make him look bad. It’s just tiring.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
He was overscrutinized. They scrutinized him in a fashion that no other political figure in the United States had yet been through.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
I think they’re afraid that he’s going to come back in and clean this up.
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
I don’t miss his ego.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Tell me what you mean by that.
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
“I did this, and I’m wonderful at this, and look at me.” I don’t miss that. He always said everything is wonderful and everything is beautiful and everything is amazing. Come on.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
You’re all here because you are leaning toward voting for Donald Trump in the Republican primaries. But you’re only leaning toward him. You also said you were open to potentially considering other candidates. So I want to ask you to fill in a sentence: “I like Donald Trump, but ….” What would you say to fill in the end of that sentence?
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
I like Donald Trump, but he’s too old.
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
I like Donald Trump, but he comes with a lot of baggage.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
I like Donald Trump, but he needs to pull back on the sophomoric rhetoric. He kind of sounds like an eighth grader, poking fun at people, etc.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
I like Donald Trump, but he is just as corrupt as everyone else in his own way.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
I like Donald Trump, but I’m worried that he might not get a fair shake with illegal voting mishaps.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
He’s too old, he comes with a lot of baggage, and he’s very much out there.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
What do you mean by “out there”?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
He is more of an entertainer than he is a politician. Obama was a statesman. He looked like a president. And I think, in a lot of ways, Trump is the polar opposite of that.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Joanna, “I like Donald Trump, but …”?
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
He’s a little egotistical. I didn’t like that, the arrogance.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
A few people commented on Trump’s age.
Do you think Trump is too old to be president again? Do you think Trump is too old
to be president again? 2 people raised their hands.
Amy,, 51, white, S.C.
Jeff,, 65, white, S.C.
Jennifer,, 48, white, S.C.
Carol,, 69, white, Iowa
Joanna,, 37, biracial, Nev.
Erin,, 49, white, Iowa
Clark,, 24, white, N.H.
Ansari,, 25, Black, Wis.
Anna,, 35, white, Calif.
Susan,, 57, Latina, N.Y.
Cristian,, 35, multiracial, Nev.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What’s making you lean toward Trump?
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
He started getting things done in a quick and expeditious fashion from the moment he hit the pavement as president. Within weeks, we were starting to see some change. Was it perfect? Maybe not perfect, but it was an improvement.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Because we’ve dealt with him before, we kind of know how he operates. With the other candidates, you’re just not sure what you’re going to get.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
He unbalanced a system that’s very corrupt, and that’s one of the good things. He’s an unbalancing agent. That’s kind of one of the things that makes him so unique.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What would it take for you to shift from leaning toward Trump to leaning toward another candidate, to supporting another candidate?
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
What I’m looking for is someone who has the strength and the business background that Trump has. None of the other candidates, as I look through them, have the experience. But there are a few of them that have brought up things like the Constitution. And if I could see more of that, I’d certainly be open to them.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
That’s a tough question. Like it was mentioned before, if R.F.K. Jr. was running as a Republican, I think that would be a strong case as to voting against Trump. But at this point, it’s kind of late as to what they can do.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What do you like about R.F.K. that Trump doesn’t quite have or is different?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
I think they’re similar in some ways. I do think that he would also stir the pot in similar ways that Trump would.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Could you see voting for R.F.K. Jr. as an independent candidate next year?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
I’d consider it.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
I want to hear more about your thoughts on some of the other people that are running in the primaries now. Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when I say each of these names. Let’s start with Vivek Ramaswamy. What comes to mind when you hear the name Vivek Ramaswamy?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Well spoken.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
Well educated.
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
Cool.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
Well spoken.
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
Presentable.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
The next name on my list is Nikki Haley. What comes to mind when you think of Nikki Haley?
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
Outspoken.
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
Yeah, outspoken.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
A fighter.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
Doesn’t walk her talk.
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
Outspoken.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
Doesn’t feel like a strong leader. I think she talks well, but I don’t get that strength that I get with some others.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Next on my list is Ron DeSantis.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
Competent.
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
Good speaker.
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
Strong leader.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
OK. What makes you think of him as a strong leader?
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
He comes off that way, like a strong person and tough and stuff like that, tough on crime and things.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
The last name on my list is Tim Scott. What are some things that come to mind when you think of Tim Scott?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
I don’t know him. So I don’t have an opinion.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
He’s well spoken and comes off very positive.
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
Conservative.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
I don’t find him trustworthy.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Why not, Amy?
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
He’s flip-flopped on a number of issues.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Jeff, you said something very positive about Tim Scott just now, but you’re still leaning more toward Donald Trump. If it came down to, say, Donald Trump and Tim Scott, why would you lean more toward Trump in that match-up?
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
Well, I think there’s a lot of policies on the far left that I disagree with, and I think it’s dragging down our country. And I think the far left is strongly opposed to him, and that’s why I’d vote for Trump.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
So mostly because of who his enemies are.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
No, because I think they’re more fearful of him.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Of the names I just read, is there anything that you can imagine them doing that would make you more interested in them or make you want to switch your vote or maybe, say, “You know what? I liked Donald Trump, but I’m ready to try this new person”?
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
It wouldn’t necessarily be switching my vote, but I would love to see Trump and Ron DeSantis work as a team and run together.
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
I’d want to see them debate Trump.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
What would you want to hear them say in a debate with Trump?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
Their ideas of how they would go about turning around this country, their thoughts on going about cleaning up this mess.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
I have a related question: Is there anything that you think Donald Trump could do that would make you concerned or maybe reconsider your decision to pick him? Or is there something that could happen to him that would no longer make him your first choice?
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
Not unless one of the other individuals I talked about were really able to step their game up and bring that experience in. What I think would help Trump a lot is if people saw the real side of him — his compassion and his charity. He doesn’t ever talk about any of those things.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
I would not want another Jan. 6 incident. Anything that would incite violence, I’m opposed to. He needs to do this through the law, the right way, not through violence.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
With the other candidates, when they start doing the commercials where they each bad-mouth each other, that gets on my nerves and might prevent me from sticking with one or the other.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
I guess if I really had a lot of questions about Trump’s V.P. candidate, there’s a chance that could throw me for a loop if I wasn’t feeling confident about their capacity to function as a strong person in that role.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
I agree with what’s been said. Cristian and Amy made some great points. I don’t like when he makes things like a circus.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Donald Trump has drawn a lot of contrasts with other candidates. He’s had nicknames for people that he runs against. Can you think of any ways that he has kind of criticized the people he’s running against?
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
In general, he kind of acts like a child. And so I think if he showed his intelligent side, his business side, that would really benefit him. He does talk bad about other people, which I think is unprofessional in any job or manner.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Is it fair and right or at least legitimate for him to criticize the people he’s running against?
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
I don’t know that it’s fair and legitimate, but it seems like it’s the thing that everybody does, so to criticize just one person for that is kind of hard to do.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Thus far, have you heard of any of the other candidates for president criticize Trump?
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
I think I think they all criticize each other. Trump just calls people names, and that’s kind of the way he fights. And I’d like him to back off of that. But they all criticize each other.
Ansari, 25, Black, Wisconsin, warehouse assembly
I think criticism of any form is healthy for a conversation or a debate. It’s OK for somebody to criticize, as long as nobody is being disrespectful or calling people names.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
There was a debate where one of the candidates said he was going to call Trump Donald Duck. So there was the name calling going, and Trump wasn’t even in the building.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Right now, it seems Donald Trump is most likely to win the Republican nomination. What’s the most persuasive thing that somebody who’s not Donald Trump could do to win your vote? Or at this point are you pretty set on Trump?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
We need somebody strong and bold. That’s why I’d vote for Trump.
Cristian, 35, multiracial, Nevada, real estate equity
I want someone to upset the balance of the parties, find the corruption and bring it out in the open. If you did that, you would get more votes from all aisles. It doesn’t matter if they’re left or right. If you start doing that, you’ll get all the votes, including mine.
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
I think I’m going to be voting Trump in the primary.
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
The advice I’d give would be to not let Trump bring you to his level if he’s name calling.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Here’s a final question.
Are you confident the Republican candidate
for president will win next year? Are you confident the
Republican candidate for
president will win next year? 5 people raised their hands.
Amy,, 51, white, S.C.
Jeff,, 65, white, S.C.
Jennifer,, 48, white, S.C.
Carol,, 69, white, Iowa
Joanna,, 37, biracial, Nev.
Erin,, 49, white, Iowa
Clark,, 24, white, N.H.
Ansari,, 25, Black, Wis.
Anna,, 35, white, Calif.
Susan,, 57, Latina, N.Y.
Cristian,, 35, multiracial, Nev.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What gives you that confidence?
Susan, 57, Latina, New York, teacher
People are fed up.
Jennifer, 48, white, South Carolina, accountant
Yeah, I agree. We need a change.
Joanna, 37, biracial, Nevada, teacher
I think people will want to change for the better because of the way things are going.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
I believe it’s because every time they throw something at Trump, it doesn’t stick. People are so fed up with the corruption and the crime and the illegals coming across the border and wiping out our country. I think people feel that they’re losing their identity and they want to feel safe. And they want to get back to what we were really established for.
Amy, 51, white, South Carolina, retired educator
I think America craves feeling comfortable with their leadership and that our leadership is confidently looking out for our best interests.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Anna, why didn’t you raise your hand on that one? Why aren’t you confident a Republican will win?
Anna, 35, white, California, proposal specialist
Based on dinner conversations with friends, not everybody thinks like I do or some other people in this group. Some people are just die-hard Democrats. A lot of people don’t like Trump. And if he is the nominee, they’ll just vote for whoever is not him.
Erin, 49, white, Iowa, quality assurance
Because they’re Democrats, they won’t vote for Trump. They’re just very hung up on that political affiliation rather than maybe the best candidate.
Jeff, 65, white, South Carolina, commercial estimator
I think there’s a lot of stunts that may be pulled between now and then. I mean, there was a laptop that was misinformation that everybody said wasn’t real. And then it came to be real. Places like Twitter and Google and Microsoft shaping the message — there was talk about how they’ve censored conservative opinions. A lot of people aren’t following politics like some of us here are. And so they’re listening to whatever that the media is throwing at them. That’s why I’m skeptical.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
And Clark, how about you? Why didn’t you raise your hand?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
A lot of friends vote for social reasons more so than economic issues. They just simply won’t ever agree with a Republican because of the social issues.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Which social issues?
Clark, 24, white, New Hampshire, underwriter
Abortion or other things like that.
Carol, 69, white, Iowa, consultant
The biggest divider is there are people who want to ask questions and get more information. And then there are people who ridicule people who ask questions. Maybe it’s critical-thinking skills and things that we’ve lost in our country that they just accept what it is they’re told. I think we as a country don’t ask those kinds of questions as readily as people did years ago.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
