WASHINGTON — He vote rural contributed to the resounding victory by Donald trump in Tuesday’s elections, much higher than what the polls and previous results of the Republican predicted.
In far northwestern Pennsylvania, Erie County has swung between Democratic and Republican candidates in the last three elections. This year he opted for Trump, who won 63% of the field’s votes nationally, according to a CNN exit poll.
Tom Eddy, chairman of the Erie County Republican Party in the key state of Pennsylvania, said rural voters chose Trump with their pocketbooks in mind, especially because of the cost of gasoline and food.
“If someone votes for Trump, I think it’s because of the economy,” Eddy said when the magnitude of the Republican’s victory became evident.
Only those who had a grievance with Trump voted for Harris, he added.
in a district electoral There was a participation of 88% and in another the Republican tripled the number of votes of Democrat Kamala Harris, he recalled.
In Erie, a county that voted for Barack Obama in 2010, for Trump in 2016 and President Joe Biden in 2020, this year it opted for the Republican who won with almost 2,000 votes difference over Harris.
Dylan Robuck, 28, who works at a McDonald’s in Erie, says he’s “very excited about the taxes.” The president-elect promised that tips will be exempt from taxes.
Trump also won among Latino men and among first-time voters, according to US media.
Although the polls indicated that the result would be very close, Trump is on track to win both the popular vote and the electoral college vote where he could end up sweeping the seven undecided states. The Republicans have also achieved a majority in the Senate and everything indicates that they will also control the House of Representatives.
“Long term”
Trump has repeatedly toured the rural corners of the seven undecided states, such as Pennsylvania, which with 19 electoral college votes – more than any other undecided state – paves the way for any candidate to win the White House.
“Trump is the man. He gets it done,” says Zachary Rindfuss, a scrap metal dealer in Erie County.
“I was happy with him when he was there before, and then he lost the second election. I think I’ve seen America plummet, and I’m glad he’s back,” says the 29-year-old.
Gillian Kratzer, chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Democrats’ Rural Caucus, who led her party’s efforts to reach rural voters, said she thought many people in rural communities would “vote” with the economy in mind, “but “The facts don’t support it.”
“I sincerely believe that, unfortunately, racism, misogyny and homophobia played a very important role,” repeating the message that Democrats have long accused Trump of, but that in the end did not help them much with a crushing defeat .
