Voters Stick to Pandemic-Era Habits, As Early Turnout Surges in Both Cities
Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Gage Skidmore/AP Courtesy of Gage Skidmore/AP
In the days before the pandemic struck in January, the last two presidential candidates to visit Pittsburgh had planned something much more ambitious than any local candidate could have imagined.
In the days before the pandemic struck in January, the last two presidential candidates to visit Pittsburgh had planned something much more ambitious than any local candidate could have imagined.
Republican Donald Trump held a campaign-style rally in Pittsburgh the first week of January. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders attended a similar event a year and a half later.
And, in November, President Obama visited on the first day of the year.
“It feels like we are in the middle of an election cycle,” said Dan Weitzer, an assistant professor of political science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
It’s no surprise to Weitzer that so many voters have made up their minds ahead of Election Day. And it’s no surprise to him that many of them are relying on the same habits that have defined political campaigns in general. For example, like any election, there was voter turnout on Election Day, and by and large, it was high.
“So, the fact that turnout has been so high is not so surprising,” Weitzer said.
But Trump and Sanders’ visit were “a big surprise” to Weitzer and others, he said.
“In the early part of the campaign cycle, it was not uncommon to see the polls out in early December not predicting Trump and Sanders even getting close to election,” Weitzer said. “So, it’s really a sign of the strong political climate and enthusiasm. I think there are a lot of voters who have been voting since before the pandemic even hit and are just continuing to do so in response to the economy and, in particular, the pandemic.”
Weitzer thinks these voters represent “a significant swing group