In Scranton, Pennsylvania, the hometown of current President Joe Biden, it cannot be overlooked that an election is coming up. In the suburbs, signs in support of Republican candidate Donald Trump are stuck in the grass in front of houses. This is also why the quiet North Washington Avenue on the outskirts of the city is different at first glance. Like almost every street in Scranton, there are posters in support of Kamala Harris.
Scranton (from our special correspondent) – Beautiful family homes are decorated with scary Halloween decorations and political posters. In the early evening, it is quiet here and only occasionally a car slowly passes by on the wide street. Pleasant light shines in from the windows on the ground floor. Kim Scalese, who lives in one of the houses with her twenty-year-old daughter, a cat and a female dog, is already home from work.
Joe Biden was born and raised on this very street, just a few meters from Scalese’s house. The city also named a street after the current head of state, and a new Biden library is set to open there soon.
Scalese recalls meeting him a few times and he was always very nice. “We called him Uncle Joe back then, but now I call him Grandpa Joe,” she says. Although she was very happy with the current administration, she is glad that Kamala Harris is running instead of Biden. An American woman works in a home for the elderly and sees how quickly someone can age and lose strength. It is therefore good, according to her, that the eighty-one-year-old Biden is no longer going to stay in the White House. Biden withdrew from the defense for the position of head of the White House in the summer precisely in connection with his advanced age. The impetus was the presidential duel, in which he performed very poorly, and he withdrew his candidacy after growing pressure from the parties.
Just hate everywhere
“I think his resignation helped the Democrats a lot because suddenly there was a new, younger candidate they could vote for,” Scalese estimated. She admits that when Harris ran in the primary five years ago, she wasn’t very fond of her.
“I felt like she was trying to be too interesting, she had these funny lines, but I think it’s just her personality, it wasn’t a pose. Now I’m happy for her.” She adds that she would prefer if Biden’s vice president ran for a few years, because she probably wasn’t quite ready for these elections. Still, he hopes to win.
But he doesn’t see the fight so much as a Democrat versus a Republican, because he doesn’t even consider Trump a proper Republican. It bothers her that because of him in the USA, women no longer have access to abortions in many states, as well as his racist statements about migrants or remarks about women.
“You can’t talk to people about it at all, there’s so much hate everywhere,” he says. In addition, the situation around her is constantly worsening. Even this year, for the first time ever, he will not go to vote in person. He is afraid.
Prefer elections by mail
“I always went to vote, I took my daughter so she knows what it looks like. She will vote for the first time this year, she is 20, and I will not go there with her,” she regrets. He mentions that the FBI uncovered a group that was planning to attack polling places.
“In general, I don’t like when they still pressure us in front of the polling station to vote for them, because I’m going there already made up my mind. But this year I’m afraid. There will be fights and arguments. Plus there will be Trump observers and I just don’t believe it. It’s really a terribly heated situation,” he describes.
Donald Trump has repeatedly called on his supporters to patrol polling stations on election day and check for fraud. According to him, those happened four years ago, when Biden defeated him. Trump still refuses to admit that he lost the last election, and so do his staunchest supporters. But he has no evidence for these claims.
Kim Scalese hopes that nothing will happen in Scranton specifically and that the riots will eventually affect larger cities. Even so, he prefers to vote in advance by mail, which Pennsylvania is one of the few American states to allow.
“I wish a woman would win”
But he realizes that the situation here can be tense because every vote counts in Pennsylvania. The state is one of the seven states where the chances of Republicans and Democrats are equal, so it is not clear in advance who will win here. Trump narrowly won here in 2016, but Biden similarly narrowly defeated him four years later.
Again this year, the result is very likely to be extremely close, with less than half a percentage point separating Trump and Harris. Nationwide polls also point to a completely balanced fight.
Scalese thinks it would be great if a woman finally won. “I think it would help calm the situation. Maybe it would be better for the whole world,” he adds, referring to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where the United States plays a vital role.
If Trump wins, the Pennsylvania resident is preparing for the worst. ”My daughter and I don’t travel much. We’ve hardly ever been abroad, but now I told her we need to renew our passports. Just to be safe,” she concludes.
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Interviewer: Good day, and welcome to Time.news. We’re here in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the hometown of President Joe Biden, and today we’ll dive into the dynamic political landscape of this area as the elections approach. Joining me is Dr. Laura Mitchell, a political analyst and expert on election trends. Laura, thank you for being here.
Dr. Mitchell: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss the current political climate.
Interviewer: Scranton seems to be a microcosm of the national mood, with both Trump and Harris posters visible. What do you make of this divided sentiment in Biden’s hometown?
Dr. Mitchell: It’s quite telling. Scranton exemplifies the broader national polarization we’re witnessing. On one hand, you have enthusiastic Trump supporters, but on the other, a strong base for Harris. This reflects both local and national discontent, as well as loyalty to Biden after his years in office.
Interviewer: Speaking of President Biden, residents like Kim Scalese express mixed feelings about his age and decision not to run again. How significant are these sentiments for Democratic voters?
Dr. Mitchell: They’re significant indeed. Kim’s perspective illustrates a common concern among voters about Biden’s capability at his age, which can lead to a sense of relief that a younger candidate like Kamala Harris is stepping up. This shift may energize the party base, which can be crucial in tight races.
Interviewer: Kim also mentioned feeling fear about voting this year due to heightened tensions and potential violence at polling places. How pervasive is this fear, and what does it indicate about the current political climate?
Dr. Mitchell: This fear is palpable and widespread among voters, particularly in battleground areas. It underscores a troubling trend where political discourse has escalated into hostility and mistrust. The anticipation of confrontation at polls can disenfranchise voters and ultimately influence voter turnout.
Interviewer: It’s interesting to see how individual experiences, like Kim’s, reflect the larger issues at play. What role do you think local narratives like hers play in shaping the national conversation as the elections loom?
Dr. Mitchell: Local narratives are vital. They provide context to the broader issues at hand. When local citizens articulate their concerns—like Kim with her apprehensions about voting—they humanize the political discourse, making it relatable. This can also attract media attention and influence the national narrative, encouraging discussions around voter safety and election integrity.
Interviewer: Many Americans are concerned about the implications of having election observers as called for by Trump. How does this kind of rhetoric impact voters?
Dr. Mitchell: It can create a climate of fear and intimidation. When supporters are called to monitor polling stations, it can lead to confrontational situations, as Kim fears. Voter intimidation is a serious issue; it could suppress turnout among those who might otherwise exercise their right to vote.
Interviewer: As someone who analyzes political trends, what do you foresee for this upcoming election based on the environment in places like Scranton?
Dr. Mitchell: I predict we’ll see lower in-person voter turnout due to anxiety over potential violence at polls, which might lead to an increase in mail-in voting—similar to what Kim mentioned. Furthermore, we might witness unexpected shifts in voter demographics as younger voters rally behind Harris, while older demographics stay loyal to Biden’s legacy.
Interviewer: It’s going to be a telling election season, that’s for sure. Thank you, Dr. Mitchell, for your insights on this pivotal moment in American politics.
Dr. Mitchell: Thank you for having me. It’s essential we engage in these conversations as we navigate the complexities of our democracy.
Interviewer: And to our viewers, stay tuned as we continue to cover the unfolding events leading to the elections. This is Time.news, signing off from Scranton.