What’s one word you would use to
describe Joe Biden as a person? What’s one word you
would use to describe Joe
Biden as a person?
Miguel, 48, Ariz., ind.
Kevin L., 35, Wis., Dem.
Sang Jun, 29, Nev., Dem.
In 2020, men were almost evenly divided between Donald Trump and Joe Biden — a remarkable shift from 2016, when they backed Mr. Trump by 11 points. That swing was decisive enough to put Mr. Biden in the White House. Another shift in men’s votes may well determine the outcome of this election, too.
For the latest Times Opinion focus group, we gathered nine men who voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 to see how their views about him evolved since then. Most of them could see a difference Mr. Biden had made in their communities — roads paved, highways built, fiber-optic networks laid — and in the way people around them spoke. Kevin L., a 35-year-old school psychologist from Wisconsin with two children, was worried about what his kids would overhear if Mr. Trump returned to Washington. During the Trump years, he said, the children he worked with began to speak differently, as if they were mirroring the man in the White House, mimicking the taunting and bullying they heard on TV.
At the same time, most of our participants said they were unhappy with their choices in the 2024 presidential race and wished they could vote for someone else this fall. And threaded throughout our conversation was an unmistakable despair; most of our participants had all but given up on ever being able to convey what they saw in Mr. Biden to their neighbors and friends, including people who still love Mr. Trump.
One man said that when he talks to Trump supporters, sometimes he offers a couple of facts or asks a few pointed questions, hoping that it might affect the way they view the former president. The trouble, several said, was that many people live in a different reality. You can be friends or even family, but you still exist in separate worlds, with separate sets of “facts.” For many of our participants, the solution was to shut down or to avoid politics altogether. But the longing persists — a longing we have heard in most of our focus groups — for a country where we can all air our differences, where we still take pride in reaching for common ground.
Participants
Fredrick 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
Jake 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
Jeremey 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
Kelly 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Kevin G. 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Kevin L. 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
Miguel 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
Sang Jun 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
Trevor 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
Transcript
Moderator, Margie Omero
Fill in the blank. When I think about how things are going in the country right now, I’m most worried about: blank.
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
The economy.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
Humanity.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
I’m worried about the economy.
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
Inflation.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Dividedness.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Trump.
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
Wealth gap.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
Extremism.
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
Divisiveness.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Kevin G., you said “dividedness.”
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
There’s no common ground anymore. Either left or right, there’s nothing in the middle. And that’s why nothing gets done.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Do you think there was a time when you felt that there was common ground?
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Maybe I’m acting nostalgic or whatever, but it seems like when I was a kid, things got done more.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Jeremey, tell me what you meant by “extremism.”
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
We see things, unfortunately, like Christian nationalism or an uptick in racism — it’s at an extreme. It’s more than I can ever remember growing up, these last 40 years. There’s none of that unity, whether it’s political or just on a human level.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Miguel, you said you were worried about humanity.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
We can’t have discourse. People just have this blatant attitude that they can say and do whatever they want to others.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Let me hear from folks who said they were worried about the economy.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
Within the last 20 years, we’ve had a couple of recessions, and there’s been serious change. I’m 36, so it’s been kind of tough for me to be economically stable. I can’t imagine buying a house or just being able to have a steady income and growing it so that I can have a nice nest egg when I retire.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What do you think could be done about that?
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
I think we do have to go back to the time of F.D.R. and make some massive changes to the banking system.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Let’s talk about politics and leadership. How do you judge whether a candidate would be a good president?
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
A track record of accomplishments. Generally political, but sometimes it can be in business — someone who is successful, someone who’s intelligent, someone who’s well spoken, someone who understands the issues and realizes not everything is black and white. Have they matured with time? Or are they still stuck back in 1992?
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
Open-mindedness. I guess if they’re willing to look at an issue from more than one perspective, that’s a big deal for me.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Trevor, how do you judge whether a candidate would be a good president?
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
Their stance on poverty. Really, I’m looking for a president who wants to do stuff, something to help those in need. And past track record, of course. And someone with a generally good, caring heart.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
For me, you’ve got to be honest. You have to be a straight shooter. You shouldn’t be 110 years old. We need somebody young. I’m 64, and I don’t think I can handle the job. These guys are in their 70s and 80s. We need some young blood, somebody who’ll grab the bull by the horns and do what’s right.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
I’m looking for someone who actually has experience running something — a governor, a business leader. I feel like, too often, politicians don’t have the pulse of the people.
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
I think what makes a good president is whether you can sell an image. America has an image of: “We’re the richest. We’re the strongest. We’re the nicest. We’re the greatest.” Somebody who could sell that image not only to us but to the whole world. I think that’s what makes America great. I think that’s what’s important for us — to keep that status.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
I want a president that is honest. But this person doesn’t necessarily have to be a good person. They just need to be able to get stuff done. So if they need to embarrass some senators or call out people in the House of Representatives and just make sure that they are very uncomfortable, so that they can actually write bills and legislation that actually helps people, they should do it. Biden had the opportunity to embarrass some senators, but he just did not fight for his legislation. You can’t be passive.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
Strength doesn’t have to be bullying our way through the nations or anything. It’s emotional intelligence, the ability to lead our people and be strong, like Abraham Lincoln. He held a country together in the middle of a crisis. Strength is more than just shouting, “We’re No. 1.”
Moderator, Laura Reston
Time for a show-of-hands question.
Jake,
36, Pa., Dem.
Jeremey,
40, Nev., Dem.
Kelly,
57, Ariz., Dem.
Kevin G.,
64, N.C., ind.
Kevin L.,
35, Wis., Dem.
Miguel,
48, Ariz., ind.
Trevor,
50, Mich., ind.
Fredrick,
36, N.C., ind.
Sang Jun,
29, Nev., Dem.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
They’re not mutually exclusive. You can be a strong leader, and you can be a good person. Dwight D. Eisenhower is a great example of that. Strong leaders are kind of more in our rearview mirror than they are in front of our windshield. And I think, to some extent, Joe Biden is a pretty good person, and he’s a strong leader.
He’s gotten more accomplished with a razor-thin majority in the previous Congress than had been done since at least 1965, with the Inflation Act, the Infrastructure Investment Act. My entire street’s been torn up for three months now because you’re putting in fiber optics. That’s the kind of stuff I’m looking for. I want results. I’m a pragmatic person. I was raised very conservative on a ranch in northern Utah. I spent six years in the Navy. It seems to me the Democrats get stuff done and the Republicans just squabble about stuff and worry about trans people taking over the world.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
[LAUGHS.] True.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
I agree with Kelly on seeing results. And as much as Biden has done with the infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, I believe that more could have been done, and he didn’t fight for those things that were in the Build Back Better legislation.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What’s one word that describes how you feel about the upcoming November election?
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
Stressed.
Moderator, Margie Omero
“Stressed.” OK, Jeremey.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
Frustrated.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Jake?
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
Yeah, I was going to say “anxious.”
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
Nervous. Very nervous.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Worried.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Chaos.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
Independent.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
Anxiety.
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
Change.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Kevin L., what made you say “stressed”?
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
It doesn’t seem like either of the candidates are great options. Biden has done a lot, but obviously, people have concerns about his age, and I’m nervous about Trump winning. I have a 6-year-old son and a 3-year-old son. And I also work with high school students. And you can just see, once Trump started running for president, the way people started to communicate with each other changed. If he’s elected again, one of my kids will come home, and he’ll be like, “Did you see what the president posted?” Those are conversations that I don’t think kids should have to have.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Jake, tell me why you said “anxious.”
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
I’m more anxious about the immediate aftermath of the election. I suspect that Biden will win. But then I’m worried about another potential Jan. 6 kind of incident, if not immediate, within a couple of months.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Kevin G., you said “chaos.”
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
It’s going to be terrible either way. I mean, there’s going to be so much mud thrown either way. And like Jake said, something like Jan. 6 could happen again. Why can’t it just be: “You won. Congratulations”?
Moderator, Margie Omero
Sang, you said “change.”
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
I voted for Biden the last election. I think Trump’s going to win this time. I don’t want our country to go to the extreme left. I think the right has to pull our side to the right a little bit, and after four years, a left leader can win again, pull our country to the left a little bit and keep it in the middle. I don’t like either of our candidates. But I think Trump winning would be actually better for our country.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Do you feel Democrats are getting pulled too far to the left?
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
Mm-hmm. I’m poor, too, so trying to help poor people a lot is good. But I think we’re spending too much money trying to help Ukraine or Israel. I feel like, as a Korean person, Trump was doing good with North Korea. But Biden isn’t.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Fredrick, you said “independent.”
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
I think this presidential election, more than any since maybe Ross Perot in ’92, there’s an opening for a third-party candidate to actually win. But it seems as if a lot of voters — regardless of being Democrat, independent or Republican — don’t want to take that risk.
Do you wish we had different Democratic and Republican nominees? Do you wish we had different Democratic and Republican nominees? 9 people raised their hands.
Fredrick, 36, N.C., ind.
Jake, 36, Pa., Dem.
Jeremey, 40, Nev., Dem.
Kelly, 57, Ariz., Dem.
Kevin G., 64, N.C., ind.
Kevin L., 35, Wis., Dem.
Miguel, 48, Ariz., ind.
Sang Jun, 29, Nev., Dem.
Trevor, 50, Mich., ind.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What’s one word you would use to describe Joe Biden as a person?
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Grandpa.
Moderator, Margie Omero
OK. OK. Jake.
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
My first word was “old.”
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
Caring.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
Impotent.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
Tenacious.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Effective.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
Caring.
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
Experienced.
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
Old.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Miguel, tell me about “tenacious.”
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
He’s had a storied career, he’s been firm on his beliefs and his values, and he has the experience.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Trevor, tell me about “caring.”
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
I think he really does want to help people and help the country. But due to the divisiveness in the House and Senate, it’s really hard for him to get anything accomplished.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What tells you that he cares about people?
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
His programs to help the poor. His programs to help rebuild our infrastructure.
Moderator, Margie Omero
If you saw Joe Biden at a cookout, what would he be like?
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
He’d be the guy in the middle, cooking food and chatting it up with everyone.
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
I think he’d be on a chair, kind of tired, more off to the side. I think he’d be polite, though.
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
I see him at the grill with the apron on, chatting it up.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Yeah, I kind of agree, but I think he might be charged with a cooler, you know. Make sure there’s beers on ice, make sure everything’s cool. Isn’t that what grandpas do?
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
He’d be talking with everybody, eating ice cream, being in the center.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What do you think, if anything, Joe Biden gets about what your own life is like?
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
I doubt he gets anything about my life. I mean, he’s lived a privileged life. I just don’t feel like the wealthy can relate to those who are not wealthy.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
I know what he would get about my life 10 years ago when I had three kids. OK? My kids are all grown up now, for the most part. I don’t know that he would think much about me, truthfully. I don’t know that we’d have a whole lot in common, other than I like ice cream, too. But I don’t know that he has to get me. I don’t know that he has to get everybody. He just has to get what he thinks is right. And I think he does a pretty good job of that.
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
I think he’s done a lot with regards to erasing college loans. He’s tried to propose things that help with the child care shortage. But I don’t think he’s the person pushing for these things, because he’s very far removed. He probably hasn’t had college loans, ever. Like, he hasn’t had to deal with child care in 50, 60 years. But at least he understands that this is a problem for a lot of people that forces people out of the work force.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
So I think a lot of people are missing that Joe Biden grew up poor. He got his money in politics. Personally, I feel that he can understand loss and addiction. His son obviously went through addiction. I have a brother who went through addiction.So I feel like he can be very empathetic to people and connect with them on certain issues that hit hard to home. And it’s that empathy that we talk about that a president should have.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Jake, what do you think Joe Biden gets about your life?
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
I was actually a bit disappointed with how he didn’t push through his initial package for student debt. It just kind of feels like since he didn’t use any executive action for that, he doesn’t really know what we’re all going through.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
I’d been paying out my student loans for 26 years before he finally washed the last four grand away. He gets it. He’s trying to do what he can to make it a little bit better for the middle class. For me.
Have you seen tangible changes going on around you, thanks to Joe Biden? Have you seen tangible changes going on around you, thanks to Joe Biden? 6 people raised their hands.
Fredrick, 36, N.C., ind.
Jake, 36, Pa., Dem.
Jeremey, 40, Nev., Dem.
Kelly, 57, Ariz., Dem.
Kevin G., 64, N.C., ind.
Kevin L., 35, Wis., Dem.
Miguel, 48, Ariz., ind.
Sang Jun, 29, Nev., Dem.
Trevor, 50, Mich., ind.
Moderator, Laura Reston
Kevin, what have you seen?
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Before I retired, I worked in the semiconductor business. The last company I worked for is receiving funding because of the CHIPS Act, which they’re going to use to purchase new semiconductor equipment to make chips for the military here in the States.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
We’re seeing a lot of construction on our highways and freeways. And we just saw fiber improvements in some of the poorest neighborhoods in our community as well, bringing access to people who haven’t had it traditionally.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
As I said before, in Atlanta, just a few years ago, I ran over a pothole that was apparently deeper than I thought, and it actually knocked off the wheel of the car that I was driving. And now, after the infrastructure bill has been passed, the entire neighborhood where I used to drive has been paved over, and everything is brand new. So despite how people drive in Atlanta, the roads are much, much more smooth.
Moderator, Laura Reston
Do you think your friends and neighbors recognize that Joe Biden was the one to do this?
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
I live in one of the most conservative towns in America. And I think people are aware of it. It’s tough not to be. But I don’t know that they would put two and two together. They just probably think it was already happening. There’s a segment of people that just have a tough time grasping reality. And whatever you tell them, they’re never going to believe it anyway.
Fredrick,
36, N.C., ind.
Jeremey,
40, Nev., Dem.
Sang Jun,
29, Nev., Dem.
Jake,
36, Pa., Dem.
Kelly,
57, Ariz., Dem.
Kevin G.,
64, N.C., ind.
Kevin L.,
35, Wis., Dem.
Trevor,
50, Mich., ind.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
For myself, it’s kind of half and half.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
When politics comes up, that’s when I know it’s time to walk away. But that’s why we live in the country that we live in, right? It’s their right to voice their opinion however they want to do it. I mean, I don’t have to agree with it. I just try to avoid it, you know?
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
I come from a mix, like a 50-50, of guys. We have conversations. But I know the minute I start speaking to my father-in-law, he’s right there on the Trump camp, and he just talks crap about Biden and has a lot of those views. So I tend to counter him with facts about Joe Biden. Or just hush up and walk away.
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
I live in a rural area where the conversations are all mostly conservative. I tend to lean left, so I just don’t engage.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
I guess it depends on the context. If somebody is very pro-Trump, you can try to ask them simple questions about the various things that he’s been accused of and that he’s in court for and also try to clear up some misinformation about what Biden has actually done. But as many people have said, you don’t want to necessarily put yourself in a stressful situation, because we are so divided. And it’s hard to come down to what it is — what reality really is.
Moderator, Margie Omero
How does it feel if you’re on a text thread or you’re talking to someone in your family or you’re talking to people in your area and you feel you have to disengage, not respond, move away?
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
I feel disappointed most of the time. And sometimes it leads to exhaustion, because it becomes a repeat. It’s just happening over and over and over again. And it goes back to that feeling that we used to be able to see past differences and respect the differences that we had as a nation from political views. Now it’s just this extreme. It’s either you agree with me or you’re against me. And it’s just disappointing.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Most of our family are very conservative. And it’s kind of ironic, because myself and the only other member of the entire family who served in the military, who grew up in a small town, who grew up ranching in a conservative environment, are kind of the liberal pinko commies of the family. My wife has clamped down, because I will get into it, I’ll roll with them in the dirt. But my wife — in the interest of family solidarity or whatever — it’s just, “Don’t discuss politics with them.” So I don’t. And I typically try not to avoid — I try to avoid discussing politics with anyone. I have a real problem with the hard-core MAGA people. Because I don’t think they have a firm grasp of reality and, thus, it’s not really worth my time to engage them.
Moderator, Laura Reston
Joe Biden has been in politics for decades at this point. In the last four years, has the way you see him changed, as a man, as a politician, as a leader? What’s different now, if anything?
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
Despite some of the disappointments, like I mentioned earlier, with the student loans, I do think he has proven effective. I wasn’t sure. I voted for him four years ago as the lesser of two evils, and overall, it has been a good presidency.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
Um, my — I didn’t grow up with Joe Biden, so my first introduction was during the Obama years. And I thought then that he was more effective as a vice president. He was able to get a lot of things accomplished. But as president, I haven’t seen that same kind of vigor. And also, I’ve been disappointed with him with what’s going on in Ukraine, because I don’t believe we should be tied to any wars. And with the whole situation with Gaza and with the Palestinians, it’s been mind-blowing how he’s been — he has refused to change positions and change policy. So when I was voting for the lesser evil in 2020, I didn’t imagine a genocide happening. I hoped that he would continue to help people, but that help has dried out.
Moderator, Laura Reston
Before we segue into Donald Trump, I want to get your opinion on Kamala Harris.
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
I am not all that impressed with Kamala Harris. She just doesn’t seem to be doing all that much, and I don’t think a lot of people support her. So I don’t feel like she’s going to be the next person taking the reins of the Democratic Party.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
I don’t think she’ll be a candidate the next time around. I kind of expected more from her.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
I kind of agree. I feel she’s probably been one of the weakest vice presidents that we’ve ever had. She’s not vocal. She’s not out there. She’s not connecting with the American people. I’d be more interested, if we’re seeing a female candidate run for president, in someone like Gretchen Whitmer running, the governor up in Michigan. I think she’d be much more powerful.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Let’s shift gears a bit. What one word would you use to describe Donald Trump as a person?
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
Straightforward.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Crooked.
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
Maniac.
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
Liar.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
Criminal.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
Insane.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Insane.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
Outlaw.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
Child.
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
Manipulative.
Moderator, Margie Omero
If you saw Trump at a cookout, what would he be like?
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
He would be away from everyone else and very shut out. He’d just want to be doing his own thing and wouldn’t want to be interested in socializing with anyone.
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
I kind of see him in the same role as Biden, at the center of everything. But there’d be more crude humor and inappropriateness scattered throughout.
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
I kind of see him as a bully at a cookout, being real pushy and not very nice to people.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
Yeah. I could probably see him trying to sell something to people.
Moderator, Margie Omero
What do you think Trump gets about your own life?
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Absolutely nothing. He has no concept of how 99.9 percent of Americans live, work, think, feel. He’s just out of touch. He’s just detached from reality.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
I don’t think he really cares. I mean, not about my life, personally. I think he thinks he’s far more intelligent than he really is, has tapped into the psyche of the American people and that he has this, like, forward-thinking thought, and it’s far from the truth, I believe.
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
I don’t think he has any understanding of regular people’s life. But I think the same as Joe Biden or any — most of the politicians. They’re rich. They’re old. They’re politicians. They have power. What are they going to understand about a 30-year-old regular middle-class person?
Moderator, Margie Omero
Is there a vice president that Trump could pick that would change your view of him?
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Someone that was sane and competent — but that didn’t seem to work very well the last time.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
He wants a yes man or a yes person or a yes lady, somebody to boost his ego. So no, his vice presidential choice would not change how I’m going to vote in November.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Anybody say that their views toward Trump have changed over the last few years?
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
I didn’t think he was such a terrible person before 2015. I kind of thought he was a New York businessman, loud and obnoxious. And hey, good for him. But yeah, no, I was pretty agnostic, and now I’m not.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
I’m the same way, honestly. Come 2016, I thought he was a businessman. Sure, there were some comments that got made, a little bit of scandal in the beginning. But I’ve come to see him as a terrible person that just can’t be trusted to run this country, let alone run a business. And he’s just — he’s vile.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
During the 2016 election, I didn’t really have an opinion. But I also didn’t vote for either candidate. During the 2020 election, I was very concerned. I’m still concerned. And that’s in part why I think that this is a great time for an independent candidate. But my thoughts of him have just gotten worse. It’s not just him that is awful, though. I do believe that the Republican Party, at least the people — the more powerful people in the party — are doing things in a way that will change the way government will run. I don’t trust them to do what’s correct.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Is there anything Biden or Trump could say or do that would win your vote for sure?
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
No.
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
Whether the candidates say something or not, it doesn’t really — I don’t think it really matters.
Moderator, Margie Omero
You think people aren’t going to change their minds between now and November?
Sang Jun, 29, Nevada, Democrat, Asian, online retail
No.
Fredrick, 36, North Carolina, independent, Black, Uber driver
For me, either Biden or Trump will need to talk about fundamentally changing the economy and making sure that it works for not just the working class but the poor as well. Because we’ve seen the rich, especially during the pandemic until now, become much better off as opposed to before the pandemic.
Moderator, Margie Omero
Miguel, how about you? Do you feel like you’ve decided, and there’s nothing that either candidate could do to change your mind?
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
Correct.
Moderator, Margie Omero
OK. And it sounds like other people are there, too. What do you wish the candidates understood about being a man in America today?
Jake, 36, Pennsylvania, Democrat, white, quality manager
I just wish they understood all of the financial stressors that we’re under, especially with the economy the way it is and the inflation numbers still so high.
Kevin L., 35, Wisconsin, Democrat, white, school psychologist
I don’t really view it as, like, a male or female thing. I view it more from the family perspective — of how hard it is to have two parents working and then balance paying for child care and then trying to save up for retirement, college, buying that first house — all of the challenges that come with that.
Kevin G., 64, North Carolina, independent, white, retired
It’s not about being a man, but the older I become, the more of a tree hugger I become. And we need to do something about climate change. Just watching the news this evening about the tornadoes and everything — that’s all climate-related. Somebody needs to do something about it.
Trevor, 50, Michigan, independent, white, academic researcher
I would say that it would have to be the financial issues, the stress of it, and dealing with the fact that your wages might go up but if the price of everything else goes up, you’re still in the same spot. It’s just stress upon stress.
Kelly, 57, Arizona, Democrat, white, S.E.O. sales
Trying to plan for your retirement is pretty scary. I’ve still got one kid in college, and then my parents are starting to get really old. And dealing with them is kind of a stress, too. I’m kind of sandwiched between two generations right now, and it’s never cheap.
Jeremey, 40, Nevada, Democrat, Latino, financial adviser
I’m right there with you. I wish the candidates could understand what it’s like trying to support a family, especially when you have a wife that’s disabled. And the economy is just so rough right now. Trying to financially support your family is terrible. And that burden is on you.
Miguel, 48, Arizona, independent, Latino, hotel manager
I would hope that they would understand the gravity of their roles. I don’t know if they understand that responsibility.
