WaPo PA poll confirms for me it is about much more than the economy, stupid

[BeyondGeography]

The poll has Harris +1 at 48-47

What jumps out at me is this:

Overall, Pennsylvania voters have a dour view of the national economy, with 66 percent saying it is either “not so good” or “poor,” while 33 percent say it is either “excellent” or “good.”

They have a more optimistic view of their own financial situations, with 60 percent positive and 37 percent negative.

Among voters who say the economy is bad but their pocketbooks are okay, Trump leads by 34 percentage points.

https://wapo.st/4d77kT6

Feels like white people tying themselves in knots to justify their vote for Trump.

Not that we shouldn’t keep hammering away at our economic message, which is very strong, but the path to victory would seem to lie elsewhere.

[Johnny2X2X]

1. Truly remarkable data

And completely media driven. To convince people who are doing well that the economy is shitty takes a concerted and relentless media campaign.

I know a ton of people who fall into this category, ones who I know are doing great personally, but who think the economy is just bad anyway.

[Happy Hoosier]

2. The internet is full of bullshit

I'm about 8-9 years from retirement and personal finance/retirement planning has become almost a hobby. Most of the shows I watch acknowledge that the economy is doing at least fairly well. But there are TONS of videos that the YT algorithm recommends to me that are just full of doom and gloom. They are STILL talk about "record high inflation," and have added "massive layoffs" to their repetoire. Some highlight high levels of consumer debt (which IS a real problem) as a sign that a collapse "bigger than the Great Recession" is right around the corner. Low-info people who get ALL their info from sources like this (and Fox News is basically no different) just accept the BS they are fed. It's a real problem, IMO.

[yardwork]

4. Those YT videos, tweets, and Facebook posts are made by Russian trolls.

Fox News, AM radio, all those creepy right-wing talk shows - all following a script written in Russia that is tailored to audiences around the world. The Republican Party sold themselves to the Russians, all for a little bit of cash and power. Trump is a Russian creation.

The goal is to rebuild the Soviet Union bigger than ever as Mother Russia with a sphere of influence all over the world, divvied up with China.

[arlyellowdog]

3. Own finances good, country sucks, get off my lawn, kids, vote Trump

So MAGA Boomers (I’m a Boomer, and only associate with good Boomers, but I know the type)

[yardwork]

5. This sums up the Trump voter, driven by racism, anger, and fear:

Among voters who say the economy is bad but their pocketbooks are okay, Trump leads by 34 percentage points.

[C_U_L8R]

6. It shows how pliable some people are.

And that there is a hearty appetite for bullshit in some sub-cultures.