'Lying scoundrel' vs. 'old fool': Voters see tremendous difference in election choices
Voters see a stark difference between their two choices in the 2024 presidential election.
A recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS found 91 percent of registered voters see significant differences between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the network reported, and only 20 percent of the so-called "double haters" who don't like either candidate say they're basically the same.
“Trump is a low down lying scoundrel who only cares about himself," said a South Carolina voter in her 70s. "Biden, I think, really does care for the American people."
The contrasts have little to do with policy, the poll found, with voters focusing more on character and personal traits, such as an ability to perform presidential duties and perceived motivations.
“Biden is a senile, old, fool," said a Virginia man in his 70s who's backing the ex-president because he opposes the current president. "Trump is a lout, but has a clear mind."
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The biggest gap between the two was in honesty and integrity, with a 17-percent difference, and a 15-percent variance in mental fitness, but voters also saw differences between the two candidates in patriotism, egotistical motivations and effectiveness.
“Biden supports and defends our constitution, democracy and rule of law whereas Trump actively works to undermine and destroy our constitution, democracy and rule of law,” said Californian in his 70s. “Trump wants to remove all checks on his power so that he will have unchecked absolute power to do whatever he wants to do to whomever he wants to do it.”
About 11 percent of Trump supporters mentioned the economy or immigration as differences between the two candidates, which is consistent with other polling on the election.
“Under [T]rump my gas and groceries were cheaper,” said a New York woman in her 20s. “Under Biden I can’t afford to live.”
Many voters didn't like either candidate, saying that Biden's age worried them and Trump's criminal record was a concern.
“They are both awful but in very different ways,” said a New Mexico in his 30s who plans to support independent candidate Cornel West. “Biden needs to be forced into retirement and Trump needs to be put away in prison.”