Following Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 criminal counts in his hush money and falsified business records trial, GOP pollster Frank Luntz hosted a focus group featuring 11 undecided voters. According to the New York Times, Luntz, a seasoned conservative pollster, asked them, “How the heck can you be undecided at this point?”
Luntz, who has experienced severe health issues, including multiple strokes, attributed to the stress of not speaking out more forcefully against Trump, led the discussion to gauge the impact of the verdict on the 2024 presidential election.
During the focus group, participants shared their views on the verdict and its implications for their voting decisions. Wendy, a 57-year-old New Yorker, expressed her dismay, saying, “To me, this is the worst of democracy. The fact that a felon can actually run for president hurts the general population.”
In contrast, Ben, a 42-year-old Texan, saw it differently. “I lean toward this being the best of democracy. I would have been too terrified of voting in that direction if I was on that jury,” he remarked. Ben continued, “So now, it’s down to voting for the convicted felon or voting for (President Joe) Biden, the super-old, out-of-touch guy, reported Politico.
I don’t really like either of those choices, but I think I’m going to go with the old guy losing his mind over the convicted felon who’s probably going to be out for blood as soon as he’s elected. It’s like I’m in Poland trying to choose between the Nazis and the Soviets. I’m just going to flip a coin, but probably voting for Biden. I don’t know if I’ll vote.”
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced by Justice Juan Merchan on July 11. Chantel, a 33-year-old California resident, questioned the feasibility of Trump’s candidacy. “‘How is he going to run the presidency from jail?’ is what I’m thinking. It kind of doesn’t make sense to vote for him,” she told Luntz.
The focus group revealed a mix of opinions on the fairness of the trial. Seven participants believed the trial was fair, while John, a 58-year-old Pennsylvania resident, considered it “rigged.” Three participants were unsure if the trial was fair or unfair. The diverse reactions from the undecided voters highlight the complex and divided opinions surrounding Trump’s legal battles and their potential impact on the upcoming presidential election.