In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, host Lauren Mayk interviewed Pennsylvania voters to get their perspectives on a variety of issues, including abortion, the economy, immigration, Trump’s criminal trial, the Israel-Hamas War, and their voting intentions. She also spoke with Villanova University political science professor David Barrett about the presidential race and the significance of visits to swing states like Pennsylvania.
Former President Donald Trump made a visit to the Lehigh Valley two days before his criminal trial began in mid-April. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden made three stops in Pennsylvania during the same week, including in Philadelphia.
During the episode, Trump voters shared their motivations for supporting the former president, as well as their views on abortion, the economy, immigration, inflation, corruption, and Trump’s criminal trial. Philadelphia voters also shared their thoughts on President Biden and discussed issues such as gun control and police brutality.
Professor Barrett joined the conversation to provide insights on the impact of in-person campaign visits on voter behavior and how swing states like Pennsylvania can influence election outcomes. He also discussed whether it is advantageous for candidates to run without a running mate during a pandemic. The episode concludes with listeners being encouraged to subscribe to Battleground Politics on various platforms such as Apple, Google
