Pennsylvania Voters Show Divergent Views on Trump's Leadership

Joan London proudly displays a 40-year-old newspaper, its edges worn and yellowed. She smiles as she reveals a black and white picture of her first foray into political activism — holding a 1984 Reagan-Bush campaign sign.

Scrolling through her phone, she shares more moments of GOP pride: snapshots of London attending a rally for a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor and participating in a Tea Party event in Washington, DC, during the Obama administration.

London shared that when they turned 18, they signed up as a Republican. They remained a Republican for many years until recently switching their registration to Independent.

Right before making the change, London cast one final ballot as a Republican. They voted for Nikki Haley in Pennsylvania's April presidential primary, despite the fact that the former South Carolina governor had dropped out of the race seven weeks prior.

London explained in an interview with CNN that she believed it was time to pass the baton to a new generation within the Republican Party. She expressed her support for Haley by casting a protest vote and then decided to leave Donald Trump's GOP.

When asked about her decision, London shared that she has a different vision of conservatism compared to the current direction of the party. Having been influenced by the Reagan era in the 80s, she has always embraced a positive outlook on self-sufficiency and personal responsibility. However, she has observed a shift towards populism within the party, which she feels brings along some negative connotations that do not align with her values.

London is not the only one. In the recent primary election, Haley received nearly 17% of the total votes in the state, and almost 25% in the suburban counties around Philadelphia. This amounts to over 155,000 votes, which could play a significant role in a key battleground state. In the 2016 election, Trump won by 44,292 votes, while Biden won by 81,660 in 2020.

Our interview with London is part of a CNN project that aims to track the 2024 campaign through the perspectives and experiences of voters in battleground states. These voters are crucial in determining the final outcome of the election.

London is a lawyer in Berks County. The change in scenery as you head northwest from the Philadelphia suburbs is clear. You'll see farms, silos, and Trump flags. Trump won Berks County by 10 points in 2016 and 8 points in 2020. However, Haley got almost 16% of the primary votes here, which Trump cannot afford to lose in November.

It seems like London's victory is unlikely.

She mentioned that she doesn't plan on voting for Trump or Biden. Instead, she is considering either leaving the presidential line blank or writing in a conservative candidate.

Any subtraction hurts Trump because she knows the math.

"I believe it's important to show that the Republican Party should move in a new direction," she explained. "This is a principled stance that I must take."

Irma Fralic, too, cast her primary vote for Haley as a protest.

“I want a country that is normal,” Fralic said. “I want a country that functions and I want people to be together.”

She is the daughter of Cuban immigrants, a staunch supporter of Israel and a Reagan Republican who saw Haley as tough and principled on foreign policy.

Now?

Fralic expressed his dissatisfaction with the options available. He mentioned one option involving a court, and the other option made him feel sorry for the person involved. He stated that if the person were his father, he would advise him to reconsider his life choices. As for the other option, he suggested prioritizing personal problems.

John King and Pennsylvania voter Irma Fralic in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.

John King and Pennsylvania voter Irma Fralic in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.

CNN

During our trip to Pennsylvania, we learned that Haley plans to vote for Trump in November, even though she has some disagreements with him. Haley mentioned last week that she hopes Trump will try to win over her supporters directly.

Fralic pointed out that Haley's choice to support Trump will not necessarily influence her own decision.

She suggested, "To connect with me and the many Nikki Haley supporters, Trump should consider selecting her as his Vice President. If that happens, he will have my support.”

London, on the other hand, had a less enthusiastic reaction. She mentioned, “My admiration for Ambassador Haley remains the same, regardless of whether I agree with her decision,” in a text conversation.

Eyeing Trump, but holding her nose

Linda Rooney cast her Haley vote in the primary as a question as much as a protest.

Rooney, a registered Republican who voted for Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020, questioned, "Who are the individuals in the Republican Party pushing this agenda on us? Why can't we choose a more level-headed candidate? Someone who values diplomacy."

Rooney, who runs a digital communications business from her home in Media, in suburban Delaware County, has ruled out voting for Biden again. She mentioned, “I don’t trust him with the economy.” Rooney’s son serves in the Army, and she expressed anger about the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Due to these reasons, she stated, “So, honestly, I can’t vote for him.”

Rooney framed her 2024 debate this way: “I can write someone in, or I can just hold my nose and vote for Trump and know that’s only going to be four more years.”

John King speaks with Pennsylvania voter Linda Rooney in Media, Pennsylvania.

John King speaks with Pennsylvania voter Linda Rooney in Media, Pennsylvania.

CNN

In a text conversation later on, Rooney expressed that Haley would make a good VP and could potentially keep Trump in line. This comment hinted at Rooney's own future stance.

Rooney also shared her thoughts on Haley potentially voting for Trump. She mentioned, "I believe Haley is like many of us who don't want Trump to be our candidate. She's just coming to terms with it sooner than others."

That Rooney would even consider Trump speaks volumes about her disappointment in Biden.

She called Trump’s conduct on January 6, 2021, appalling.

She expressed her frustration, saying, "I was angry that Trump didn’t say something. That Trump didn’t stop it. So, you know, I just can’t forgive him for that."

In addition to her role as a borough elections monitor, she reacted with disbelief when informed that Trump once again claimed he won Pennsylvania in 2020.

“No,” Rooney said. “No.”

A veteran who wants anyone but Trump

Michael Pesce lives in Bucks County and works in a meat processing plant.

He has been a registered Republican for 40 years.

In an interview at his Doylestown home, Pesce shared that his first presidential election was in 1984. He mentioned that he decided to become a Republican at the age of 18 because of Ronald Reagan, even though his parents were Democrats.

Pesce used to identify as a Democrat, distinguishing themselves from Republicans. However, Pesce now considers themselves a Reagan Republican.

As a Coast Guard veteran, Pesce voted for Trump in the 2016 election but chose to support Biden in 2020.

This year?

“If I had my choice, I wouldn’t vote for either,” said Pesce, who backed Haley in the April primary. “But I will vote for Biden. I will vote for anyone but Trump.”

Pesce said, "He tried to overthrow our government, and that's a problem for me. I served in the US military and have strong feelings about what it means to be an American."

Pesce does not have much tolerance for people who think Trump is incapable of making mistakes. "They refuse to acknowledge the possibility that he may be found guilty of a crime soon," he explained. "They also refuse to accept the fact that he has been involved in questionable activities."

Pesce said he was “greatly disappointed” to hear of Haley’s decision to support Trump. “I think she is looking ahead four years,” he said.

But it won’t sway him.

"I identify as a Republican and a conservative," Pesce stated. "I believe we allocate funds to unnecessary expenses."

Despite his political beliefs, he plans to support Biden in the upcoming election and encourages the over 150,000 Pennsylvania Republicans who voted for Haley in the primary to do the same.

"If enough Republicans can make the right decision to keep Trump out of office, the next four years may not be flawless," Pesce expressed. "However, I believe they will be an improvement compared to the alternative."

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the growing discontent within the Republican Party, particularly among voters who identify as Reagan Republicans. These voters are disillusioned with the current direction of the party, which they believe has embraced populism and abandoned the principles of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility. As a result, many of these voters are considering supporting alternative candidates or even leaving the party altogether.

The article also underscores the potential impact of these voters in the upcoming 2024 election. Nikki Haley's strong showing in the Pennsylvania primary, despite her subsequent endorsement of Trump, suggests that there is a significant pool of Republican voters who are open to a different kind of candidate. If these voters decide to support a third-party candidate or simply stay home on Election Day, it could have a major impact on the outcome of the race.