By JONATHAN J. COOPER and TERESA CRAWFORD (Associated Press)
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Voters in four states had their say on their parties’ presidential nominees on Tuesday, but it was mostly a symbolic vote since both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have locked up have already secured the Democratic and Republican nominations.
Biden and Trump easily grabbed the victories in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Wisconsin, adding more delegates for their party conventions this summer.
Their wins, while not surprising, still give hints about the enthusiasm among base voters for the upcoming 2020 rematch, even though the majority of Americans are not very excited. Biden has faced opposition from activists urging Democrats to vote against him as a disapproval of his handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and there are still some Republican Trump critics voting for candidates who have dropped out.
In Rhode Island and Connecticut, “Uncommitted” received a similar share of the Democratic vote as protest campaigns in Minnesota and Michigan, which got 19% and 13%, respectively. In Wisconsin, “uninstructed delegation” got a smaller share.
The tallies in Wisconsin, a crucial battleground for November, will provide clues about the proportion of Republicans who are still not supportive of Trump and how many Democrats are disenchanted with Biden. Trump campaigned secured victories on Tuesday in Wisconsin and Michigan, two key Midwest battlegrounds.
“Donald Trump is the first person I can remember who actually tried to fulfill all of the promises that he made during the campaign,” said Scott Lindemann, a 62-year-old contractor in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who voted for the former president in the GOP primary. “I was very impressed with that.”
In New York, 70-year-old Steve Wheatley, a registered Republican, said he wishes there were more candidates to choose from. He said he voted for Nikki Haley even though “she has no shot” because of the lack of options.
“We need younger candidates with fresh ideas to run for president,” said Wheatley, a resident of Athens, a small town in the Hudson Valley. “I prefer a Democrat but our choices are thin. Look at what Biden has done so far with the economy.”
Theresa Laabs, a 55-year-old cashier in Kenosha, said her family is feeling the pressure from higher food and gasoline prices, but she voted for Biden in the Democratic primary because she feels like he’s working to alleviate inflation.
“I understand it’s the economy now, and I’m hoping that Joe will keep working even harder in the next four years to try and bring these things down and make it easier for the working family,” Laabs said.
Trump and Biden shifted their focus to the general election weeks ago after Haley dropped out of the GOP contest. Biden visited all the top battlegrounds last month after his State of the Union speech.
Biden and the Democratic National Committee have outpaced Trump and the Republicans in fundraising. Biden achieved the largest single-event fundraising record last week when he collected $26 million at a star-studded New York event with big names from the entertainment world teamed up with the president and his Democratic predecessors, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Trump wants to outdo his opponent by hosting a fundraiser in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend with the goal of raising $33 million.
As the presidential candidates secure their parties’ nominations, voter turnout was low in Rhode Island, with only 4% of eligible voters casting ballots by 5 p.m. This includes in-person, mail-in, and early votes from Tuesday.
Connecticut also experienced slow turnout, with early voting taking place for the first time in state history. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas reported that some communities had only 1% to 2% turnout by 11 a.m., while Stamford, one of the larger cities, had 4% turnout. Thomas mentioned that people have been saying the primary isn't competitive, leading to the low numbers.
The report comes from Phoenix. Contributions were made by Associated Press writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Maysoon Khan in Athens, New York.
