‘Hell Hath No Fury Like a Voter Scorned’: What 14 Swing Voters Have to Say

Matter of Opinion

New York Times Opinion

Society & Culture, Ross Douthat, News, New York Times, Journalism

4.2 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 January 2022

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A year into the Biden administration, most of us can agree on one thing: The United States remains a deeply divided nation, with polarizing opinions on all sides. But what about the voices from the middle, the independents? Swing voters are arguably one of the most consequential groups for the midterm elections, so we wanted to hear from them about how they view President Biden’s first year and the current state of American democracy. So this month the veteran G.O.P pollster Frank Luntz convened a focus group of 14 self-identified independents and moderates to get their perspectives. And there seems to be a striking theme: They’re exasperated. As Nick from Pennsylvania put it, “We’ve been promised a lot by past politicians, and it just seems that nothing ever changes.” This week, Luntz debriefs Jane on the group’s findings — namely, that independents are very disappointed and don’t see much hope for either party. His takeaway? “Independents are simple rejecters. They reject both the left and the right. They reject the past president and the current president. And in some ways they’re actually even more negative because they don’t see a way out.”

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today on the argument, what do swing voters want from Joe Biden?
0:09.1	I'm Jane Kostin.
0:11.0	Earlier this month, New York Times' opinion held a focus group for 14 self-identified
0:15.0	independence moderates.
0:16.5	I'm so excited about this session because I get a chance not only to talk to a roomful
0:22.3	of independence, but you are by definition a roomful of swing voters as well.
0:28.9	Frank Luntz, a veteran GOP pollster, picked out the participants.
0:34.6	And with some help from deputy editor of New York Times' opinion Patrick Healy, Frank
0:38.6	also led the conversation.
0:40.0	So my first question is, if I were to ask you, Frank has done thousands of surveys and
0:44.6	focus groups talking to people about their politics.
0:46.8	What would be that word of phrase?
0:48.5	But this group is unique.
0:49.9	These are people who voted for Obama in 2012, then Trump in 2016.
0:55.0	They don't align with any one party.
0:57.4	And yes, they're real.
0:58.8	You are dead center of America, most of you define yourselves as moderates as well.
1:05.2	So that means their votes are up for grabs, and both parties want to woo them.
1:09.7	You determine elections.
1:11.6	You determine where our country is going to be going.
1:14.0	You may not be heard enough, but you're going to be heard tonight.
1:18.0	And the one thing a lot of people wanted to be heard on, Joe Biden, and how they think
	...

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