One of President Joe Biden’s key messages in his campaign against Donald Trump appears not to resonate in several key states where the November 5 presidential election will be played out, reports the Washington Post.
The Democratic campaign is framing the election as a battle for the country’s survival, warning that a second term for Donald Trump in the White House would pose an existential threat to American democracy.
In his speeches and ads, Joe Biden points out that Donald Trump tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including by stoking the anger of the mob that ransacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021. He also points out that Trump has promised to use presidential powers to punish his political enemies.
However, with 3,513 voters surveyed in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in April and May, this message does not seem to carry.
The survey conducted by the Washington Post and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University reveals a paradox. Just over half of voters likely to decide the presidential election in these six key states say threats to democracy are extremely important to their vote.
However, more people trust Donald Trump than Joe Biden to manage these threats. And most of them believe that the constitutional walls that protect democracy would hold even if a dictator tried to take control of the country.
“Many Americans do not recognize Mr. Biden’s role as guardian of our democracy. This is a bad sign for his campaign,” said Justin Gest, professor of politics and government at George Mason University.