Most Trump voters don't see Covid-19 as an important election issue
By: Roge Karma (Vox)
Only 24 percent of Trump supporters view the coronavirus as a "very important" issue in this year's election, compared to 82 percent of Biden supporters
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Donald Trump speaks to a mostly maskless crowd at his Make America Great Again rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on October 20.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
The poll, taken from October 6 to 12, found that only 24 percent of registered voters who support Trump view the pandemic as a "very important" voting issue in the 2020 election, compared to 82 percent of Biden supporters. The highest issue of concern for Trump voters, by far, was the economy — 84 percent named that as being "very important" (a reasonably high number of Biden supporters, 66 percent, agreed).
The poll asked registered voters about six issues — abortion, health care, foreign policy, the economy, the coronavirus pandemic, and Supreme Court appointments — and found that Biden and Trump supporters viewed most issues with relatively equal importance. Two interrelated issues were clear exceptions: health care, an issue Biden supporters were 38 percentage points more likely to view as "very important," and the pandemic, which boasted an even larger 58 percentage point gap.
So far, more than 220,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 and roughly 1,000 continue to die every day. States like Arizona, Wisconsin, and Florida — all of which voted for Trump in 2016 — have experienced some of the worst outbreaks in the US. As my colleague German Lopez points out, if Republican-leaning states alone were a country, they'd be in the top 10 for Covid-19 deaths among developed nations.
And the worst may be yet to come: On Friday, the US reported a single-day record of confirmed coronavirus cases, over 85,000 — surpassing the previous high from July by over 10,000 cases.Saturday, the new confirmed case count nearly matched that record high,topping 83,000. With case loads and hospitalizations already at dangerously high levels, epidemiologists have expressed concern that this "third wave" of Covid-19 cases could be the most deadly yet.
Trump has stressed the economy over pandemic response
A second Pew poll, released earlier this month, may give some insight into why many Trump supporters don't see the coronavirus as an important issue in the upcoming election.
The survey found that 68 percent of Republicans think the US has controlled the Covid-19 outbreak "as much as it could have" versus 11 percent of Democrats; it also found that 66 percent of Republicans think the Covid-19 outbreak has been made out to be a "bigger deal than it really is," while just 15 percent of Democrats said the same.
This poll reflects a narrative advanced by President Donald Trump: that his administration had done everything possible to control the coronavirus outbreak — and that the coronavirus was never as serious as media, experts, and Democratic politicians made it out to be.
Throughout the pandemic, Trump has praised himself and his administration for having done a "phenomenal job" handling the crisis. In Thursday's presidential debate, Trump cited a model that forecast US deaths if the country took no coronavirus prevention measures, claiming that "2.2 million people, modeled out, were expected to die," misleadinglysuggesting that his administration's response had saved approximately 2 million lives.
In that same debate, he claimed that "700,000 people would be dead right now" under a Biden administration — a death toll that would have required Biden to do less to stop the virus than the Trump administration has (Biden's coronavirus plan calls for doing more). Vice President Mike Pence pursued a similar line of attack at the vice presidential debatein early October.
Besides praising his response,Trump has also consistently played down the seriousness of the coronavirus. In the last presidential debate, he responded to a question about the virus by saying, "We're learning to live with it." On Saturday alone, Trump tweeted that the record-setting number of new cases in the US is being overhyped, claimed that the virus would magically disappear after the election, and pushed a baseless conspiracy theory that doctors and hospitals are inflating the Covid-19 death count for profit.
This image is clickable Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly pushed to completely reopen the US economy. Echoing a claim he's been making since March, the president said at Thursday's debate, "The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself, and that's what's happening. ... We can't keep this country closed. This is a massive country with a massive economy."
From the outside, it's easy to view Trump's constant downplaying of the pandemic as political suicide — the sort of behavior that will entrench opposition to the president and potentially cause his supporters to abandon him come November. But the Pew polls released this month appear to tell a different story. Trump's blatant denial of the coronavirus reality — and his focus on reopening the economy — isn't turning his base off; to the contrary, it reflects what they already believe about the pandemic.
Political polarization affects views on Covid-19 — but it has its limits
The academicliterature on political polarization points to a simple explanation for the massive divergence in public opinion on the coronavirus, Pew's pollsters detected: Partisans don't evaluate the world objectively; they take cues from the leaders and media sources who they trust. Drawing on the work of political scientist Sara Wallace Goodman, my colleague Ezra Klein explained this phenomenon with regard to partisan divergence on mask-wearing earlier this year:
Sara Wallace Goodman, a political scientist at the University of California Irvine, has been part of a team repeatedly surveying the same group of Americans to see how their behaviors and attitudes have changed over the course of the virus. Even controlling for factors like the prevalence of the disease in the place respondents live, Wallace Goodman and her colleagues find a significant and growing partisan gap in terms of fear of the disease, perceived safety of different behaviors, and preferred policy solutions. The key to understanding this, Wallace Goodman says, is that "when people are operating in areas of high misinformation and lack of information, they take cues. We can only be rational if our leaders are rational. If you see the president not wearing a mask in meetings, you're going to model what he does."
The same goes for whether you think the importance of the coronavirus pandemic has been overblown, or whether you think the US did everything it could to control the virus. Because few Democrats or Republicans have personally conducted investigations into these issues, the differences in opinion between them hinge on which leaders and institutions they trust. Liberals tend to take their cues from epidemiologists and science journalists — or from political leaders and media outlets that defer to their expertise. Conservatives often take their cues from Fox News, Trump, and other leaders and news outlets who are often skeptical of — or downright hostile toward — those experts.
In fact, when the same Pew poll that evaluated partisan opinions on Covid-19's seriousness asked respondents about their primary news sources, it unveiled some striking findings. Among Republicans whose primary news sources are Fox News or talk radio, 78 percent thought the seriousness of Covid-19 has been exaggerated, and 90 percent believed the US has done everything it can to control the virus. Republicans who consume a more diverse array of news sources have considerably lower numbers on both counts.
None of this means Trump's dismissive rhetoric and response to Covid-19 will ultimately help him come November. The president has not enjoyed the same kind of pandemic polling bump that peer country leaders and US governors have received. He still lags behind former Vice President Joe Biden by about 9 percentage points in national polls just over a week before the election. Trump also appears to be lacking support among older voters in key swing states like Florida that have been especially hard-hit by the pandemic.
One reason for this appears to be that while Trump's rhetoric on the coronavirus clearly appeals to Republican voters, it seems far less effective at winning over swing voters.
According to a September Kaiser Family Foundation poll, the coronavirus outbreak is themost important 2020 election issue for 15 percent of undecided voters. And recent polling across seven swing states — Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas — by the conservative polling firm CT Group found that 56 percent of former Trump voters who no longer planned to vote for the president cited his pandemic response as a major factor in reconsidering their support for him.
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... but of course... we choose whom to follow ...
That just shows some people are stupid and/or lack common sense. If there's a pandemic where a contagion is transmitted by droplets, then wearing a mask seems like a simple, common sense approach to dealing with it and preventing spread of the disease, regardless if a leader does it or not. A leader not wearing a mask lacks common sense. So why would anyone follow that example?
Thats still better than 0% effectiveness with not wearing a mask. While different types of masks have different rates of efficacy (N95 masks being among the most effective), even a simple mask offers protection. Masks are proven to be effective in preventing or limiting the spread of droplets, especially when combined with social distancing. So wearing a mask is just simple common sense and courtesy, even if certain individuals and leaders do not demonstrate such common sense themselves.
What if? Where do you get your figures?
I believe that there is enough evidence to convince even a denier that although the masks are not that effective to protect a wearer from catching the virus, they are considerably more effective in preventing an infected wearer from spreading the virus.
And I live in a city-state where the virus has been completely contained, and I know what it took to get to that point.
No one claims masks offer 100% effectiveness. Only that certain types of masks are better than others, and still better than none at all. Even cloth masks have some efficacy.
Why not?
That's the whole point of wearing masks; to protect others from oneself. If everyone consistently wore masks (and practice social distancing when possible), preventing the spread of Covid would be much easier and effective.
Then I'll just assume the 30% figure you mentioned is just BS and that you're not really interested in any meaningful discussion.
You are correct.
If people think a mask offers total protection, then that demonstrates a certain level of ignorance and lack of common sense. It's like someone who takes aspirin or cholesterol medications thinks that taking such meds will offer 100% protection from a heart attack. Obviously that is not the case. The risk is reduced, not eliminated.
You're correct that many people who are healthy may think they are totally protected if they wear a mask but that's because they've never bothered to educate themselves about the issue, however they do have a purpose. Wearing one, even if you are healthy, will tend to make people around you more comfortable, and as a person who is among the most vulnerable, even if it is only 5% effective as a prevention, I would wear one.. However, one of the main reasons why the infection and death numbers in America are astronomical, and climbing still, is because of the resistance to wearing a mask.
It seems you didn't bother to read what I wrote. I explicitly said masks do not offer 100% effectiveness and different types of masks have different rates of efficacy. So who's saying all masks are equal? Certainly not I.
Most kinds of masks (when worn properly) offers some protection rather than none at all. Not wearing a mask offers no protection whatsoever. So obviously wearing a mask is better and more effective at preventing contagion spread. Preventing spread is even greater when social distancing is utilized. It's a simple concept. Public places like bars are designed for close socialization and by design does not promote social distancing. So the risk is not mitigated as much. If people think they are totally protected, then that demonstrates ignorance on their part, as I already said too.
It seems the only thing more contagious in this country other than Covid is willful ignorance or outright stupidity.
No one is saying that it is. It is recommended along with social distancing and hand washing.
Although at tRumps' super spreader rallies, they aren't doing that - wearing a mask and social distancing.
LOL. No masks are made that will prevent that.
For better, or for worse, the American people will not tolerate any more governmental mandates....especially lock downs. Democrats are more likely to follow government directives as they seem to admire repressive regimes
I wear a mask inside where required..
Agreed, but the corollary that leaders shouldn't act as if they are not effective is also true.
I've said multiple times now if people think masks are totally effective then there is a distinct lack of common sense and/or intellect. Especially if the ignore social distancing guidelines.
Only Democrats?
I am against mandates. I am for jail time.
Certain mandates are a good idea and/or necessary.
Of course. I was trying to say, in a pithy way, that there are other, more direct incitements...
I'm not very good at "pithy"...
Willful endangering
Wearing masks for one thing.
Sure. People who don't wear a mask are putting others' lives at risk. That's a crime.
Funny how some of those morons who are against wearing masks, say 'my body my choice'.
Hmmm, that sounds familiar.
[Deleted]
And some people think that drinking Bleach will kill any Virus they have...
Especially when we've got a President who a Super-Spreader of that!
Sounds a lot like Faux News to me!
NO mask is 100%, hence the number in the title of the N95 mask. Deciding not to wear a mask that gives you 50- 70% protection because it's not 100% is juvenile. Every study that has come out proves that masks cut the spread by 50% or more, even when those masks are cloth.
I didn't say you did.
Then they are almost as dumb as those that think they aren't effective at all.
I presume that's a question.
Yes, I did read your posts, all of them.
You asked 'what if masks are only 30% effective. I say 30% beats 0%. Hell, many of the best vaccines are only 60% effective. Still better than nothing.
From Trump.
LOL. No masks are made that will prevent that.
Reminds me of a wise not so olde saying:
There's no cure for "Stuck on Stupid"
So, since Trump and Biden voters see Covid/Wuhan virus so differently, why the feigned surprise at the concept that red voters are highly likely to respond to it in very different ways? Why feign shock and horror when we go to Trump rallies, back the blue and re open the economy events, and go to church events. Why be surprised that given those differences we won’t bow down to and comply with blue mandates on the issue?
My surprise is not feigned. Despite the past four years, I am still surprised by willful choice of stupidity.
You just don't get it Xx. Covid 19 doesn't have a PARTY or an ideology and it doesn't give a shit how you 'see' it. Step up as fodder if you must.
Everyone should respond the same way to Covid: wear masks, social distance, wash hands, ect.. It's currently the best way to beat Covid. It's not rocket science. It's just plain common sense.
Not shock and horror. Just plan contempt, as such people show they are selfish, inconsiderate, don't care about others or dealing with the Covid crisis, and are being just plain stupid!
No one is "feigning shock and horror".
When it comes to containing the Virus, trump (as well as the entire trump crime family) have "raised the White Flag".
A Fox news person just died from coronavirus and Bret Baier and other Fox news folks are in Quarantine. Can't wait to see how they spin this to the rubes who eat up every Fox lie.
I love to see a link to that freepress.
Rob Brown, a longtime video producer at Fox News, has died, the network announced in an internal memo to staffers last week.
Brown, who had worked with the company for 21 years, died of complications from COVID-19, his family told The Daily Beast, adding that he had not been in the company's midtown Manhattan offices since March.
Thanks, JaneDoe, sorry to hear that he died of COVID.
Perhaps some at Fox will start taking the virus seriously now.
You’re welcome.
Doubtful...
Probably not.
Well, they could always blame the Europeans because that's where the market downturn started!
Or-- why not blame Hillary? (Some ofus miss "the Good 'Ole Days" when all the news was "Benghazi"-- 24/7!
Or, pick some particular (non-White, non-Christian) group-- it hardly matters who!
They'll do what they always do-- they'llblame someone else!
Actually its part of a trend that 's increrasing-- wheneversomething bad happens,never, ever take responsibility for the results of your own actions!
Heck, some moron on the news last night said the reason the US stock market was down was because of Europe-- it happened there first!
The Virus?
China's fault.
(Or, now that cases are on the rise in Europe,theynmayb decide to blame Europe for the spike in cases-- in the U.S.!
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2KLfR6CRphfj9IAWRhXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZANDMDY3Ml8xBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1603843842/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.msn.com%2fen-us%2fnews%2fus%2ffox-news-management-says-there-are-a-few-positive-covid-19-cases-at-the-company%2far-BB1apjfR/RK=2/RS=ygyZWvB7HDBblVO_utzD43XjbuA-
Fox News management says there are a 'few positive COVID-19 cases' at the company
With an eye toward the all-important Election Night coverage next week, the network said "we will be further reducing some of the workforce in our buildings" out of an abundance of caution.
The network will be "operating virtually wherever possible" this week, Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and president Jay Wallace said in a Monday morning memo to staffers. This means that a greater number of shows will be hosted from the home studios of Fox's on-air talent.
Fox and other media outlets have been taking precautions amid a new surge in coronavirus infections and an overarching sense that news staffers must be healthy and ready to anchor vote-counting coverage that could continue for multiple days next week.
Fake News! There are a lot more than "a few".!!!
If Fox 'news' is saying several, I bet it's a LOT. No mention of the death that I could find.
Trump is PO at them due to their interview with Biden and a few good words from one or two of their people on air. So now they will be planting double kisses on Trumps a$$ while Rupert Murdoch is praying that Trump loses. He is totally fed up with Trump, and so are many of his staff. There is a lot of money that will not be going into Trumps campaign this time from Murdoch and many other rich folk who supported him last time, but, are now supporting Biden.
There are three things that usuallym happen-- in this order:
1. First there's mainly a spike only in the number of new cases.
2. Then a bit late, its followed by a spike in the number of hospitalizations.
3.Then, and only a bit later, a spike in deaths.
That would be a great campaign sign-- I hope he uses it!
It’s a damn good thing Ebola didn’t take hold in the US. These idiots would have killed off half the country by now.