rporter - I look at how all Americans are viewing this election, that’s the only way to get an in the ballpark gauge on what may be the final results. We’re, I, am looking at these numbers a long way from the election itself. Lots of time for these numbers and outlook to change. All it takes is one unforeseen major event. But without that, the numbers have been steady with the normal few points up or down over the last year.
Among republicans and democrats, avid pro and anti-Trumpers, you’re correct. This election is much more about Trump than Biden. Biden gets overlooked in their feeling’s views toward this rematch. It boils down to most republicans being all for Trump with a few being against Biden, these guys want Trump elected. A majority of democrats being against Trump with a minority being for Biden. They want Trump defeated; Biden just happens to be Trump’s opponent. The driving force is Trump, one way or the other.
Independents, swing voters are different. A good majority of independents are against both. Their feelings, their view of Biden and his presidency may be playing a larger role than their view of Trump in their decision on who to vote for or not vote at all or perhaps vote third party. The avidness of being either pro or anti-Trump isn’t there among this group. There aren’t the hard, set in stone feelings about Trump one way or the other. Generally speaking, they don’t want Trump due to his rotten character, his lies, his legal problems, Trump being an all-around bad guy. They don’t want Biden due to them perceiving he’s done a very poor job as president; 60% of independents or more disapprove of the overall job performance of Biden and his handling of most issues, his age and the fear Biden won’t survive another four years and worries about Biden’s mental fitness. The big difference, most independents dislike Trump the person, they like Biden as a person, the individual. Most look back on the Trump presidency feeling they were better off under Trump than under Biden today. Their personal situation was better, their standard of living better, the cost of goods and services cheaper and more within their means. But they still don’t like Trump the man.
They are totally conflicted today as to which way to go if they go at all. Vote for someone they dislike as a person, but think he did a better job as president when it comes to their own personal situation. Or vote for someone they like as a person but think he has done a poor job as president and probably is too old to carry on. For swing voters, this election is as much about Biden as it is about Trump. This is something democrats, the anti-Trumpers can’t understand. Because they have their hard, set in stone feelings and views of Trump, they expect everyone else to have the same feelings and views. They view this upcoming rematch very differently than either the pro-Trump side or the anti-Trump side. Do they realize what is at stake, long term, the pitfalls if Trump wins? Probably not? But they do know their own personal situation today vs. 4 years ago. For many swing voters, this is all the counts.
