Democrats have won every presidential election in Pennsylvania since 1992, but this year could be different.
Pennsylvania seems to be getting redder, while a potential Donald Trump ticket is pushing other states towards a democratic vote.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is currently ahead in the polls by a narrow margin. In June, Quinnipiac reported her ahead at 42 points, versus Trump’s 41 points.
A recent focus group by the Anennberg Public Policy Center targeting 11 blue collar Pittsburgh voters, seemed to reflect Clinton’s narrow lead. Participants gave Trump lower overall favorability scores than Clinton, but felt stronger about him in a presidential role. They described him with similar words and phrases: “racist, matter of fact, next president, vain, no tact.”
“I like Hillary, I’m a big supporter,” said homemaker Danyale Victor. “But I don’t think she can run a country ... because she’s a woman.”
Megan Carpenter, a homemaker, said the way “he puts himself out there” is important.
“We might not agree with the things that he says, but I feel like he does have a sense of honesty,” Carpenter said. “He doesn’t handle it professionally, but he admits his wrongdoing most of the time.”
That honesty was something participants thought Clinton lacked, in addition to handling her emotions and fiscal responsibility. A Quinnipiac poll last week that found Clinton trails Trump cited honesty, too.
“I was a Democrat, a solid Democrat, until about 10 years ago,” said Ron Chromulak, who attended a Trump speech in Monessen. “Trump specifically, he has a lot of appeal to me.”
Pennsylvania has been considered a “purple state” in the past, and a recent NPR analysis found the commonwealth could once again be considered a “toss up” in this year’s election. Both candidates seem to be looking for an edge among blue collar and former manufacturing workers. At Pittsburgh rallies this year, Clinton and Trump made similar appeals to Pennsylvania workers.
Speaking about the steel industry at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in April, Trump told his supporters, “We’re gonna bring it all back. I’m so good at this. I’m so good.”
Earlier that month at a rally at Carnegie Mellon University, Clinton pointed to robotics and advanced manufacturing for medicine and clean energy. She said, “Imagine that we once again become the manufacturing engine of the world.”
For many western Pennsylvanians, those jobs are a big deal. Trump recently made a campaign stop at an aluminum facility in Monessen -- a town that’s lost two steel mills and thousands of jobs.
“My husband worked at the mill. It got shut down. We lost everything,” said Kim Gido. “I do hope (Trump) makes it. We need it. Better wages, more jobs. Get rid of the Mexicans.”
Some locals who attended the event said the economy in Monessen is tough, but they have mixed feelings about the presumptive Republican nominee.
“It was hoped on the TV broadcast he could do something to bring back industry,” Ron Godla said. “I don’t know what he could possibly do there.”
Members of the focus group also disagreed over how Trump would run the country.
Carpenter said keeping terrorist out of the country was a top issue, but Danyale Victor, also of Monessen, said she didn’t that was possible, given Trump’s experience.
“Does he even know how to get rid of them?” Victor said. “He’s been doing beauty pageants and running businesses. He doesn’t know how to run the country, or rid the country of terrorists. Like, what class did he take to make him think he can run the country?”
Some focus group participants defended Trump, saying he could manage with the assistance of skilled military advisors.
But for others, neither Clinton nor Trump are a desirable option.
“I feel like I’m voting defensively,” Sarah Majkowski said.
Hairstylist Cherie Spena is still undecided, but said she is leaning towards Trump.
“Somebody’s dividing so that they can conquer,” Spena said. “Nobody knows who they’re fighting for anymore.”
Pennsylvania will have 20 electoral votes on the line in November’s election.
