Letitia Stein
[St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, 30th Reuters]-Ellen Kirschner (61) from Florida, who retired from postal delivery, is not an avid supporter of US President Trump. However, whether or not to vote for Democratic Party candidates in next year's presidential election is uncertain.
It's rare for a non-partisan group like her among the US voters. In states that are likely to become the main battlegrounds that determine the presidential election, the Republicans and Democratic parties are early on as important targets.
The Democrats have already begun to visit the houses to find voters like Mr. Kirschner. The party's representative Super PAC (Political Activity Special Committee) is investing 450,000 dollars every week to run digital advertisements that reveal Mr. Trump's lie and appeal to non-parties like her. The Republican party aims to win these votes through data-driven election activities.
According to analyst Rose Cook's newsletter, the proportion of voters who say they do not support a particular major party increased 6 percentage points from 2000 to 28 percent in last year's midterm elections.
But according to the Pew Research Center, only 19% of Americans classified as nonpartisans are not really close to any party.
“A lot of money is going into a relatively small number of votes that can be persuaded,” Cook said. In light of Trump's policy to divide the public, there should be fewer voters who have not decided their opinions.
Kirschner lives in Pinellas County, where the sunshine falls. It is the largest Florida in the swinging state “Swing State” that fluctuates between the Republican Party support and the Democratic Party support at each election, and the largest county (county), the so-called “Swing County”.
The county's 212 voting district is lined with ranch-style homes where the working class and middle class live. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Clinton candidate and Mr. Trump were split in two. Both votes were 335.
Mr. Kirschner explains his voting behavior as the supporting parties change from point to point. For example, I agree with the strengthening of gun control, but I am against the ban. I agree with Mr. Trump's claim that illegal immigration is a problem, but I do not agree with the regime's way of separating parents and children at the Mexican border.
In the last 2016 presidential election, he voted for Mr. Trump and will continue to support him next year, but he will not decide until he knows who will be a Democratic candidate.
“He (Trump) is not good when it comes to environmental issues. But when it comes to business, it ’s not bad.”
Mr. Kirschner, who has lived in Florida for 40 years and still has a strong New York circle, was once an advocate of former President Obama, but the current Democratic Party, which has become more inclined to the left, cannot be trusted.
“I'll give you this too. He laughed at promises such as social security for illegal immigrants and expanding medical benefits.
<The non-partisan group decides>
According to a Reuters / Ipsos poll, the non-partisan group moved away from the main political party in the previous presidential election, doubling the number of people supporting the third candidate.
Mr. Trump secured the victory in swing states such as Florida with a margin of just 1% or less. The question of which voting demographic movement was the decisive issue is still controversial, but the non-partisan group is also expected to hold the key this time.
In the 16th presidential election, the Republican Party gained 7 percentage points from the Democratic Party by winning the vote of the non-partisan group. The Republican side claims to win this time. The rationale is data from the National Committee of the Party (RNC). For example, Mr. Trump's trade policy against Canada and Mexico is supported by non-partisan groups throughout Pinellas County and Florida.
In the RNC data, the non-partisan group is not moved by the Democratic National Health Insurance proposal, and opposes the provision of free medical care for illegal immigrants.
“Everyone can reach who can persuade the non-partisan group. That's the way to win the election,” said Trump faction spokesman Rick Goka.
The Democratic party has been rushing to break Trump's advantage. Priority's USA, a liberal super PAC, has struck digital advertising early on in fierce battle states such as Florida, claiming that the benefits of economic growth under the Trump administration have not spread to the entire population.
According to the group's survey, Florida's non-partisan group has 45% of Democratic support and 28% of Republican support. One in four people could vote for either party's candidate, depending on persuasion.
Guy Cecil, the group's chairman, told reporters last month that it could be a “decision hit” if even half of those voters can win.
Pinellas County Democrats have already begun door-to-door visits to non-partisan groups who are thought to be close to the party, and to those who have regularly visited the polling house.
On a sultry Saturday, Anne Ferrantegauche and another volunteer staff drove around a winding road in a residential area and spent three hours getting on and off the car to find the most interesting interest from the non-partisans. .
According to a Reuters / Ipsos poll, the most important of the non-partisan population at the national level is health care and employment. The priorities for Democrats were the closest, but the climate change issue was their top priority. The top priorities for Republicans are border security and government-funded services for illegal immigrants.
Ferante Gauche finally talked to about six voters, but all were Democrats. None of the non-partisan voters on the list responded to the visit, leaving the Democratic pamphlet with a handwritten message.
"It's like a box of chocolates. I don't know what to get until I push the doorbell."
