What qualities make an effective president? What qualities make an
effective president?
Nate, 39, Ariz., ind.
to listen.”
Jeff, 54, N.C., Rep.
Bekki, 39, Wis., ind.
If we’ve seen an enduring trend from the Republican presidential primaries this winter, it’s that a sizable fraction of G.O.P. voters don’t want Donald Trump as their nominee again. Why is that? And what do these people — who made up 20 to 30 percent of primary voters in some states — think of the Republican Party and the issues facing the country?
For our latest Times Opinion focus group, we gathered 10 independents and Republicans who voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 and 2020 but who aren’t supporting him this time around to explore when he lost them.
What’s clear is that Mr. Trump is no longer the outsider voice that resonated with these voters in 2016. Some said that role has been taken on by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They are responding pretty viscerally to things he has said and to his antiestablishment, beholden-to-nobody image. Indeed, a major takeaway from the focus group is that the Kennedy factor in this election should be taken pretty seriously in the swing states where he’s likely to make the ballot this fall.
For several in the group, the Republican Party has become MAGA nation, and it’s too hard line and hard right — and, some said, hateful — to be a political home for them. As for losing faith in Mr. Trump, some of the voters described how his taking top-secret documents to Mar-a-Lago was a turning point for them, and others mentioned the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Still, their concerns about him do not necessarily make Mr. Biden or Democrats look better by comparison. For all but one of these voters, Mr. Trump’s shortcomings do not translate into increased support for Mr. Biden at this point.
But could Mr. Biden win some of them over, especially those whose top issue in this election is protecting and defending democracy? We put that question to these lapsed Trump voters, and the scale of Mr. Biden’s challenge was clear in their answers.
Participants
Bekki 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
Nate 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Nino 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
Christi 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
Reggie 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
Andrew 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
Jeff 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
Chris 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
James 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
Jamie 44, Nevada, independent, white, nanny
Transcript
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
What is going well in America these days?
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
If you got money saved up, you’re getting rich with the interest rates being higher than normal.
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
People are looking out for each other more these days. During a certain administration, people were more sort of against one another.
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
Work-life balance is going well. Post-Covid and being able to work remote, that’s kind of helped work-life balance for people.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
What’s not going so well?
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Inflation, the high cost of living, cost of food, gas prices. Everything is up, you know?
Jeff, 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
Our economic outlook overall, you know? But over the last probably 10 administrations, our national deficit has just continually increased and increased and increased, and it’s not sustainable. Eventually, it’s going to crash the way we’re going.
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
I think we’re superpolarized. There’s too much party loyalty, and people are voting on these laws based off of party lines rather than what’s best for the American people.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Do you think the country is on the wrong track? [Everyone raises a hand.] OK. Here are five issues: The economy, immigration and the border, American democracy, abortion and the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
about how you’ll vote this year? Which is most important
to you when thinking about
how you’ll vote this year?
Nate,
39, Ariz., ind.
Christi,
52, Nev., Rep.
Reggie,
46, Pa., ind.
Jeff,
54, N.C., Rep.
Jamie,
44, Nev., ind.
Andrew,
26, Pa., ind.
James,
54, Ga., ind.
Bekki,
39, Wis., ind.
Nino,
27, Mich., ind.
Chris,
50, Mich., ind.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Bekki, let me come to you first. Why do you say “American democracy”?
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
America is known for being free and our freedoms and the rights that we have, the things that are protected by our Constitution. If we start to lose those things, then what is our country? It’s not America anymore.
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
I feel like the governing class has kind of lost sight of “we the people” and what they’re in office for, which is to protect our good and the good of our nation. At the grass-roots level, I would absolutely agree that people have each other’s backs. I think at the government level, it’s every person for themselves.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
James, why was immigration most important to you?
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
Every state is feeling the effect of illegal immigration. And you have large cities, these sanctuary cities, that are now going broke because they’re spending millions upon millions of their dollars trying to put these people up in hotels, feeding them. And the people who are needing it, the Americans that are needing this money, are going without now.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Christi, you chose the economy as your top issue.
Christi, 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
I’m a real estate agent, and the economy is really the No. 1 thing anyone’s talking about. There are certainly people who are doing well, but not very many in the grand scheme of things. I don’t understand how a family can even live these days. Everything is so expensive. Where we were putting money back into our communities, we don’t have that choice anymore.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Think back to the 2016 election between Trump and Hillary Clinton. Let’s talk about who you voted for and why.
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
I voted for Trump. And I voted primarily because he was a nonestablishment person. And I guess there is a little bit of entertainment value, not necessarily thinking he’d get elected. All that appealed to me, just as Robert Kennedy would appeal to me now.
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
I actually got disinvited to a couple of family get-togethers because I also voted for Trump. I’m an independent, but I vote Republican most of the time, for fiscal issues. We needed a change from people getting free money, doing nothing to earn that damn money. I just felt like I worked hard. I think people should do the same. Everything shouldn’t be handed to people just for no reason. And I thought Trump would change that. But that didn’t happen quite the way I thought it would.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
I did vote for Trump — not because I thought he was, like, a supergreat person. I just felt like he was the lesser of two evils.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
How about the 2020 election?
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
I voted for Donald Trump in 2020. He felt like the lesser of two evils, and I was looking at the economy over the previous four years. It was pretty strong, so I was hoping to continue that. Joe Biden has had some alleged dealings and things like that, which kind of really drove my decision.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Great. Andrew, could I ask you just a quick follow-up in terms of the economy under President Trump? Could you speak to how, if at all, the economy benefited you personally during those four years or some of the years? Anything that particularly was good for you in the Trump economy?
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
Sure. So I had just graduated college at the time. I went into a finance job. So I was having a solid income, and I was investing a large portion of that into retirement accounts and just stocks to save. And that portfolio grew much more that four years than it has in the prior four years. So it was growing pretty strongly, as well as food prices were down, gas prices were down, kind of everything was much more attainable.
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
I had originally voted for Donald Trump, because he was kind of that Molotov cocktail. I wanted to shake things up. And I feel like he was still that in 2020, but a little less. But there wasn’t enough for me to go to vote for Biden.
Christi, 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
I voted for Trump because I couldn’t vote for Biden. More so than anything, I felt he was too old and not in great health.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
What’s one word you’d use to describe how you’re feeling about the 2024 presidential election?
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
Independent.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
Apprehensive.
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
Disenfranchised.
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
Excited. I don’t think Biden and Trump are going to be the only people in the race.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Anxious.
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
Nervous.
Jeff, 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
Concerned.
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
Excited. I want to see who drops the ball first.
Jamie, 44, Nevada, independent, white, nanny
Indifferent. I don’t care for Biden. I like Trump. But it seems like he’s got some kind of mess every which direction he turns.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Nate, why “anxious”?
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
The last election was probably one of the most tumultuous times that I can remember, with Covid, the nation divided, riots and everything else. We’re headed to a rematch, but I don’t want our country to be like that. We’re not given other options. What is that going to do to our nation?
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
I said I was apprehensive, and I’d like to just echo his sentiments. What’s going to happen if the election doesn’t go the way certain people want?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Who are “certain people”?
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
People always threaten, “Oh, I’m going to leave the country,” “I’m going to riot,” “I’m going to protest,” “I want to have a recall.” It just gets exhausting. I’ve seen it on both sides of the aisle. I’m not blaming one party or the other. But it’s just exhausting to listen to these hard-core Democrats and Republicans. They’re what’s wrong with this country. When we start seeing our fellow Americans as the enemy, that’s exactly where our government wants us to be, because then we’re easier to control, because they’ve divided and conquered us as a nation.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Reggie, you said “excited.”
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
I want to see who messes up first, actually. We need more choices. I worry about Biden. In the middle of speeches, he seems to pause and forget things. And then Trump, always putting his foot in his mouth. So I want to see what happens. Like, who’s going to make me laugh first?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Let’s talk about political parties. Is there a party that kind of represents you, your values, your priorities? Do you have a political home?
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
No. I’m not part of the MAGA nation. I do like Trump, but I’m not that far off to the right.
Jeff, 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
I’ve always been a registered Republican. But you know, in this election, I’m hard-pressed to decide.
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
Before this year, I didn’t have a dedicated political home. But living in Philadelphia, I actually attended R.F.K.’s announcement for his independent candidacy when he came out and gave a speech. I went to that with no sort of political bias. I just wanted to go and see what he was talking about. And he talked about unity and bringing the parties together and bringing the country together. I would say this is the year and that’s the candidate that’s kind of shown me what a political home could be — something that’s in between.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
The Republican Party was mentioned a minute ago. What do you think it means to be a Republican today? What do Republicans stand for?
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
I think that Republicans are viewed as MAGA now. If you’re a Republican, you’re pro-Trump. It’s all hard lines, anti-illegal immigration, building the wall. There are no different kinds of Republicans anymore. I voted for Trump before, and maybe as an independent, I would lean toward that a little bit more. But ever since all the stuff happened with — it’s just — I can’t go that way, you know?
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
When you say “all the stuff happened,” what do you mean?
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Storming the Capitol and all the other stuff. Like, that was just kind of the breaking point for me, personally. I can’t relate to that kind of thought process, you know?
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
Every time the Republicans do something, it feels like it’s hate motivated. It’s not really for the betterment of America. It’s for something to get people riled up and get people up in arms, so they can get that vote. I feel like Republicans used to stand for America the great, the proud. But now, it’s like everything they do is about hating one another and making people hate each other.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
I think the Republican Party has moved way too far to the right. I think they thought they would get more votes that way. I think both parties have moved just too far to the end of the spectrum. I did use to identify as a Republican. And it’s now over the last 10, 15 years — I can’t side with the things they side with. When it comes back to our personal freedoms, you can’t make laws and vote for things and, I guess, change freedoms because you think that’s the right thing to do.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
That’s a great segue into my next question. First, I’d like to read you two statements:
always reflect my
values and priorities,
realistically, I will probably still vote
for Republicans over Democrats most
of the time.”
Christi,
52, Nev., Rep.
Reggie,
46, Pa., ind.
Andrew,
26, Pa., ind.
Jeff,
54, N.C., Rep.
James,
54, Ga., ind.
in a direction that
no longer resonates
with me.”
Bekki,
39, Wis., ind.
Nate,
39, Ariz., ind.
Nino,
27, Mich., ind.
Chris,
50, Mich., ind.
Jamie,
44, Nev., ind.
Christi, 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
I want to throw it out there, first of all, that I think we’re probably all on the same page. I don’t like our options, period. But for the most part, I agree with a lot of what the Republicans would stand for, being on the more conservative side of things. And for me, the most important thing is making sure our economy gets back on track, and I feel like, for the most part, the Republicans are going to try to make that happen. We all want to be somewhere in the middle, making things work together.
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
The alternative is the Democrats and what Joe Biden is doing to this country. We can’t survive another four years of him — and, God forbid, Kamala Harris — being president of the United States. They are just enriching themselves, and they’re killing our country. We’re not going to have anything left after four more years of that.
Jeff, 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
Republicans still have the conservative outlook. And with our economics the way that they are, I don’t think we have an option to survive other than being conservative or at least turning it around from where we are at the last four years. Economically, I think Trump is great. Every other way, I don’t think he is. And if he’s fighting all these court battles, whether you believe he’s guilty or not is irrelevant. That’s going to take away from his time running a country if he wins the presidency.
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
I don’t know if the Republican Party always resonated with me to begin with, but compared to what it is now, what I look at previously, it resonated a lot more than with what I’m hearing in the current day. I just think it’s kind of crazy right now. Jan. 6 and the election fraud stuff were a breaking point for me. You have to believe in the system. Otherwise, it’s just not going to work.
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
Yeah. I just think it’s a comedy of errors. While the Democrats may be groupthink, at least they’re unified, and they can move in the same direction together. It doesn’t seem like the Republicans have the capacity to articulate their vision and move in that direction in a unified fashion. You saw it with the House speaker fight. Nancy Pelosi and Charles Schumer spoke more consistently, with one voice. I’m not confident about what it’s going to look like if Trump were to get in again, in spite of the policies that I agree with that he would promote.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
In a word, what qualities or characteristics do you think make an effective president?
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
Being able to execute collaboratively.
Jeff, 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
Execution and being able to listen to those that are under you.
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
Not having a personal agenda.
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
A selfless concern about organizational health.
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
Outsiders. I liked the last two outsiders that have won: Reagan and Trump.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Consistency.
Christi, 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
Putting the fate of our country ahead of everything else.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
Strong leader, someone that can work collaboratively.
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
Putting our country’s interests first.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Andrew, is there a president in your lifetime or in history who you feel put country first, who stood out to you as an effective president?
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
I’d say, as crazy as it sounds, Donald Trump from 2016.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Chris, how about you? Is there a president who filled that bill for you who you thought was effective?
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
Kennedy, I think. You know, just looking out for the good of the nation and not the mechanisms of government. And again, maybe that’s naïve, right? I’m sure. And I feel like we’ve gotten a little bit more jaded in our approach to civil servants. But when you see civil servants who’ve spent their entire careers serving the nation and building up vast wealth and notoriety, it’s hard to see that as a selfless dedication.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Nate, you mentioned consistency. Is there a president who filled that bill who you thought was consistent?
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Abraham Lincoln and Kennedy. What the presidency was during those times and what they stood for or what they fought for, putting the country first — it just doesn’t seem like it’s the same thing anymore, unfortunately. Corporations just buy certain candidates, promises, and all these other things are first instead of America.
you believe make an effective president —
are they newly important to you? The qualities or characteristics
you believe make an effective
president — are they
newly important to you?
Nate,
39, Ariz., ind.
Reggie,
46, Pa., ind.
James,
54, Ga., ind.
Jamie,
44, Nev., ind.
Bekki,
39, Wis., ind.
Nino,
27, Mich., ind.
Christi,
52, Nev., Rep.
Andrew,
26, Pa., ind.
Jeff,
54, N.C., Rep.
Chris,
50, Mich., ind.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Trump is the one that brought light to the swamp. Nobody ever thought about fake news before him. Nobody ever thought about the swamp and how long people have been in office before him.
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
Collaboration is of more importance to me these days because of the division the country has.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Each of you voted for President Trump in the past at some point. You’ve indicated that you’re leaning away from giving him your vote again. What has changed that kind of makes you lean in a different direction? Christi, could I start with you?
Christi, 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
I wish you wouldn’t. [Chuckles.] It’s not like I ever liked Trump as a person. I think he’s kind of slimy, OK? But he has a lot of great potential, as far as the ability to not be part of the old regime, to do things differently. He has the ego the size of the entire country, but that also can be helpful as a leader — to have confidence in the decisions that you’re making and to be able to make certain moves. But he’s embarrassing. He says stupid things. I wish that he would listen to the people around him who would tell him what he really should be saying. With all of the division that has gone on and the polarization, it’s very difficult for me to consider having him be a president again. That’s why I wish we had a third person that actually made sense for the majority of us.
Jeff, 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
He lost me when he admitted that he kept or took part of those top-secret documents and had them in Mar-a-Lago. I don’t believe a president can declassify information just because they want to. And he blatantly admitted that he took it so. Nobody’s above the law, in my opinion.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
I have a friend that’s a hard-core MAGA supporter. And the thing that lost me is all the MAGA people, and especially Trump, said the election was rigged and all that, and never could prove anything.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Yeah. Bekki, did you want to say something in terms of when Trump started maybe losing you, or —
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
His Twitter tirades and his ego got the better of him, and he became his own worst enemy. He made himself look like an idiot, and he made our country look stupid, because he was representing us.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Can I ask a quick show of hands question to the group, going back to what Jeff said about the documents at Mar-a-Lago? Did that trouble anyone else? A show of hands: The document situation at Mar-a-Lago — how many of you felt really troubled by that? [Three people raise a hand.]
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
We’ve talked a little bit about Donald Trump and how your views of him may or may not have changed over the last few years. I’m curious to hear how your view of Joe Biden may have changed in the last four years. Is there anyone that feels more positively about Joe Biden today than they did four years ago?
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
I liked his response to when Russia invaded Ukraine. He’s been sending a lot of military weapons and aid and that sort of thing to help them fight off Russia. And I just think it’s important to have that position in the world, especially if we want to stay the world power.
Does anybody like Joe Biden less
than they did four years ago? Does anybody like Joe Biden less
than they did four years ago? 8 people raised their hands.
Bekki, 39, Wis., ind.
Nate, 39, Ariz., ind.
Nino, 27, Mich., ind.
Christi, 52, Nev., Rep.
Reggie, 46, Pa., ind.
Andrew, 26, Pa., ind.
Jeff, 54, N.C., Rep.
Chris, 50, Mich., ind.
James, 54, Ga., ind.
Jamie, 44, Nev., ind.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
I didn’t care for him four years ago. And I think that was part of why I voted for Trump a second time in 2020. I thought Trump was just the lesser of two evils. But watching his mental decline over the past four years has me really worried for this country, because at this point, every time the man’s on TV, it’s like he’s not cognizant.
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
If people are losing respect for Trump because of the secret documents, then how do they feel about a former congressman that’s had documents in his garage, you know, with a drug addict son right there that’s making money from foreign countries? And you know, like Bekki was saying about the news conferences, the guy won’t stop and take questions.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
So I’m hearing a lot of frustrations with Donald Trump and a lot of frustrations with Joe Biden.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
I just feel like our system is so flawed. If these are the two candidates that our government can come up with, with how bad they are on both sides, what’s the point?
Jamie, 44, Nevada, independent, white, nanny
I’m either voting third party or not voting. I’m hoping Kennedy could change something and maybe make a difference. I like his family name.
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
Yeah, I just appreciate R.F.K.’s record fighting the big corporations. I’m a little concerned about what some would see as his fringe notions of vaccines, but I heard him talk in Lansing about affordable housing. That’s very appealing, his more antiestablishment stuff. I feel like he’s been very respectful of individual freedoms and the rights of others to make the choices they deem fit as an adult. And I like the policies relative to the environment and corporate actions.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Imagine your life under a second Biden term, and imagine your life under a second Trump administration. Under which administration would your life be better? Who thinks their life would be better under a second Biden administration? And under a second Trump administration?
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
God forbid something happens to Joe Biden. Kamala Harris is a lawyer. She’s going to stick to the law when it comes to protecting people’s rights, and that’s the only reason I said that.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Nino, it seems like you feel like it’s a wash.
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
It just hasn’t mattered before. How things go is pretty much how they’re going to go. Maybe there’s some influence on the tax rates, but other than that, it’s not going to make that much of a difference.
Jeff, 54, North Carolina, Republican, white, retired
Economically, I think Trump has an edge over Biden. He understands it. He is a businessman. And his last term, he lowered gas prices, lowered tax rates and things like that for certain individuals, and that impacted our economy in a positive way. Whether he’s going to have time to do that while trying to defend himself or not is the question.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
Donald Trump, whether you like him or not, is currently facing criminal and civil charges in a variety of different courts. Have these cases affected your view of Donald Trump and have made you less likely to vote for him?
Christi, 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
I’m with Jeff in that I think it’s going to take a lot of his time and energy. And of course, depending upon the outcome, he wouldn’t be able to be our president.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
James, you said this made you more likely to potentially support him.
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
Democrats are running scared. They’re going after him pre-election, trying to get him off the ballots in several states. Every one of these charges are being brought up by Democrats, so the Democrats are weaponizing the justice system to try to go after him.
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
I don’t really think it is affecting me, as in it’s not stoking me to vote one way or another because they’re happening.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
If he is found guilty by a jury in any of these cases, would that change your view at all?
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
I think it would make me look into it more. It would definitely cause me to pause.
Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson
A few participants tonight have brought up concerns about Joe Biden’s age. Joe Biden is four years older than Donald Trump, at 81. Donald Trump is 77, though. Do any of you have concerns about Donald Trump’s age, or is it more just a Biden concern?
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
I think with either, they’re going to have to have really solid vice president candidates as they’re running. I just feel like at least Trump presents more lucid, a little bit healthier. I know he’s overweight, but so is most of America.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
The age doesn’t factor in for me. Their mental state factors in. My grandma’s turning 89 in 10 days, and she is more coherent than Joe Biden is.
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
Donald Trump doesn’t show blatant signs of senility like Biden does, and that’s what worries me.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Imagine we were living in a world where you alone could pick the Democratic nominee and the Republican nominee who could be on the ballot in November. Who would you choose?
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
Joe Manchin out of West Virginia as a Democrat and my former congressman Doug Collins in Georgia as a Republican.
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
I was going to say Kamala Harris and Mitt Romney.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
As a Republican nominee, I think Ben Shapiro would be interesting to see him run for president, because I think he’s extremely smart and he researches things.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
If you had the opportunity to pose a question to all of the presidential candidates and they had to answer it, what would the question be?
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
I’d ask: What is the first thing I’m going to notice that’s different from the last four years?
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
It’s kind of hard to say. I think all politicians are liars, regardless of what party they’re affiliated with. So just because they answer doesn’t mean it’s going to be truthful.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
Are you bought and paid for?
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
I’d ask what their thoughts are on term limits for congressmen and senators.
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
With Gaza and with Ukraine, I’m wondering what our foreign policy is, and is it in our best interest? And I would ask him how he’s going to protect the First Amendment for all Americans.
Christi, 52, Nevada, Republican, white, real estate agent
What is your step-by-step plan of how to get our economy back on track?
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
What is your step-by-step plan to deradicalize the left and the right at the same time?
Jamie, 44, Nevada, independent, white, nanny
How are they going to help us?
Reggie, 46, Pennsylvania, independent, Black, day-care administrator
I’d ask Trump what happened to the border wall.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Let’s say you had a chance to give one piece of advice specifically to Donald Trump. What would you say?
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
Stop talking and stay off of social media.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
“Try to not be so divisive. Try to be more inclusive,” is what I would say.
James, 54, Georgia, independent, white, unemployed
Don’t try to divide us and them. Just talk about your accomplishments.
Moderator, Patrick Healy
At the beginning, we talked about issues that were particularly important to you in this election. Bekki, Chris and Nino, you talked about protecting American democracy. For the three of you — but really, for everybody — is there anything that President Biden could do or say in the next seven or eight months, whether it’s on protecting democracy or other issues, that might win you over to voting for him in November?
Chris, 50, Michigan, independent, white, educator
It’s so hard to say because of his mental fitness and where he’s at. You know, you thought Mitch McConnell was bad, pausing. So I would be really concerned about what he’s saying. Is it from him, or is it from something he’s being fed? But I guess demonstrating some strength, moral conviction relative to the human rights of everybody who’s suffering, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine.
Bekki, 39, Wisconsin, independent, mixed race, auto repair manager
At this point, I don’t think so. You know, I’m sure we’ve all seen the video of him trying to leave the press conference and couldn’t find the door. I mean, if a man can’t find a way out of his room, what business does he have running a country of 330 million people?
Moderator, Patrick Healy
Final question.
the 2024 presidential election? Who do you think will win
the 2024 presidential election?
Nate,
39, Ariz., ind.
Reggie,
46, Pa., ind.
Andrew,
26, Pa., ind.
Chris,
50, Mich., ind.
James,
54, Ga., ind.
Jamie,
44, Nev., ind.
Nino,
27, Mich., ind.
Andrew, 26, Pennsylvania, independent, white, insurance underwriter
I think in every election, when people are voting, an aspect of how they’re voting is how things have gone in the last four years. So obviously, when Joe Biden won, the people who really did not like Donald Trump’s rhetoric and how he spoke, that caused them to swing to the other side. And I think that a lot of people kind of will see how things have gone in the last four years, and they might swing back or persuade people to vote for them.
Nate, 39, Arizona, independent, white, independent contractor
I just think that Joe Biden’s had so many missteps in his presidency and the way that the country is going. And obviously, even the most Democratic polls would say, you know, people aren’t happy with what he’s doing, for the most part. And I just think there’s just too many things stacked up against Biden.
Nino, 27, Michigan, independent, white, software engineer
I think Jan. 6 just changed a lot of people’s minds about Trump and that he’s really not for the process and doesn’t believe in it. I think that’s affecting a lot of people’s decisions. And I think there’s kind of a meltdown going on with Trump in all these cases, and there was the files and Jan. 6. It’s just continuous meltdown, scandal after scandal. And I just don’t think you can win off of a platform like that.