If there鈥檚 one thing that American voters overwhelmingly agree on, it鈥檚 that this year鈥檚 presidential election presents a stark choice. In the latest , 91 per cent of registered voters say they see important differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, dwarfing even the 77 per cent of voters who said last fall that there were significant divides between the Democratic and Republican parties. Even among the so-called 鈥渄ouble haters鈥 鈥 those with unfavorable views of both Biden and Trump 鈥 only 20 per cent say that the two candidates are pretty much the same.
To get a broader image of how voters view the stakes of the election, CNN asked voters to name the single most important difference they saw between the two candidates. As the results highlight, the contrasts that most stick in voters鈥 minds are often not about policy issues at all. While some voters mentioned the topics that often top voters鈥 lists this year when asked to pick their most important issues 鈥 the economy, immigration or a commitment to democracy 鈥 others were more focused on character and personal traits, with honesty, ability to handle the job and perceived motivations among the traits most mentioned as distinguishing factors.
Among those who saw significant differences between Biden and Trump, the most frequently mentioned distinctions were honesty and integrity (17 per cent), ability to handle the job or mental fitness (15 per cent), love for the country or patriotism (10 per cent), perceived self-serving or egotistical motivations (10 per cent) and effectiveness or performance in office (8 per cent). Another 8 per cent talked about protecting democracy or the Constitution, with 7 per cent mentioning immigration and 6 per cent the economy. Voters鈥 answers to the questions often spanned multiple topics, and a not insignificant share offered vaguer answers, with some simply noting that each candidate鈥檚 beliefs or policies were different.
Backers of each candidate offered significantly different characterizations of the race. Voters who supported Biden in a head-to-head matchup against Trump often cast the distinction in terms of character. Among those who saw significant differences between the candidates, 31 per cent mentioned honesty or integrity, with about 18 per cent citing self-serving or egotistical motivations, typically on Trump鈥檚 part, and 15 per cent noting Trump鈥檚 criminal conviction or the other charges currently facing the former president.
鈥淭rump is a low down lying scoundrel who only cares about himself; Biden, I think, really does care for the American people,鈥 wrote one Biden supporter who responded to the poll, a South Carolina voter in her 70s.
Another Biden supporter, a Florida voter in her 20s, wrote, 鈥淥ne is a convicted felon. If I would never date a felon why would I vote one for president[?]鈥
Polling this year, including this survey, has consistently found concerns about democracy ranking high as an election issue for Biden supporters. Many also see support for democracy as the crucial defining factor between him and Trump: 16 per cent of Biden supporters who see differences between the two candidates cited democracy and the Constitution as the most meaningful difference. Others raised concerns about fascism or said they saw Trump as uniquely dangerous to the country.
鈥淏iden 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,鈥 a Californian in his 70s wrote. 鈥淭rump 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.鈥
Trump鈥檚 supporters, by contrast, most frequently characterized the contrast between the two candidates as one of mental fitness, or ability to handle the job, topics mentioned by about 24 per cent of those who saw important differences between Trump and Biden.
鈥淛oe Biden is the first President in my lifetime who is mentally unfit to be our President,鈥 wrote one Texan in his 70s who said he鈥檚 committed to supporting Trump this fall. 鈥淚n my opinion he has no [idea] on what is going on in this country and is not capable of making a sound decision in regards to the best interest of the USA.鈥
Another 15 per cent cited love for the country, patriotism or America First sentiments, with 11 per cent mentioning effectiveness or performance in office.
鈥淭rump saw that as people in this country of USA, needed help and he went out of his way to help,鈥 wrote one Connecticut Trump supporter in her 30s. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 like Trump at first but once we got Joe, we have only suffered.鈥
Roughly 11 per cent of Trump supporters who saw differences between the two candidates mentioned the economy or immigration, respectively. Both topics have reliably topped Trump supporters鈥 lists when asked to choose the election issues they find most important.
鈥淯nder [T]rump my gas and groceries were cheaper,鈥 wrote one New York woman in her 20s. 鈥淯nder Biden I can鈥檛 afford to live.鈥
Some voters described the contrast between Biden and Trump in terms that were less than flattering to either candidate.
鈥淭hey are both awful but in very different ways,鈥 wrote a New Mexican in his 30s who said he plans to support independent candidate Cornel West. 鈥淏iden needs to be forced into retirement and Trump needs to be put away in prison.鈥
Some voters were similarly disparaging even if they鈥檇 opted to support one of the main-party candidates.
鈥淏iden is a senile, old, fool. Trump is a lout, but has a clear mind,鈥 responded one Virginia man in his 70s, who said he was supporting Trump largely as a means of opposing Biden.
And a Californian in his 20s who said he backed Biden mostly as an anti-Trump vote wrote, 鈥淥ne is a coherent liar, one is an incoherent truther.鈥
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