Elites on both sides of the aisle tend to dismiss Walmart moms and their grasp of the political landscape, but on Tuesday, pollsters for both the Democrats and Republicans gathered two binders full of women, one in Columbus, Ohio and one in Phoenix, Ariz., and conducted focus groups on those people really living life in the aisles.
.@MargieOmero and I doing another set of #walmartmoms focus groups on Tuesday night. Can't wait to hear what these voters have to say!
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 7, 2016
If you like twitter & you like focus groups, follow me & R pollster @KCkid. Tonight we're live tweeting a new round of #walmartmoms groups
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
"You're looking live…" #walmartmoms about to talk '16 with me, follow @KCkid @MargieOmero for live updates tnite! pic.twitter.com/pHuAoJIlFu
— Robert Blizzard (@robertblizzard) August 9, 2016
So, what do #walmartmoms have to say about the candidates and the 2016 election season? Here’s a sampling of opinions.
#walmartmoms – getting tired of hearing about the candidates. Can't get away from it. It's everywhere.
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
#Walmartmoms – social media exacerbates the divide between friends. People being de-friended because of their views/comments.
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
#walmartmoms on election: messy, circus show, disrespectful, frustrated, crazy, worried, name-calling
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
Politics on social media "leaves a bad taste in your mouth" say #walmartmoms. "I expect it on the news, but not being unfriended."
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
#walmartmoms – no matter which way we choose in this election, we're going to lose. No one is talking about the issues.
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
One word to how you feel about your choice: "screwed" "disappointed" "fearful" #walmartmoms.
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
"To be honest, this might be the first year i don't vote." #walmartmoms
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
Looks like both parties are doing a bang-up job.
Columbus Walmart moms on Donald Trump:
I think he's insecure, gets riled up so easily, says a #walmartmoms. He attacks everyone, i don't understand
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
Trump weaknesses – petty, insecure, too easily riled up, racist, derogatory. His weakness is his mouth. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
"he's a jerk. that's just who he is." "I mean, calling a woman a fat pig on national television?" #walmartmoms.
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
Trump hesitation – impulsivity, his mouth, untruthful, no filter, too extreme, immigration, lack of pol exper, name-calling. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
Why Trump – despite his mouth, we know what to expect. With HRC, don't know what we're getting. Trump better on security. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
Trump voters support him as the lesser of the evils. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
Columbus Walmart moms on Hillary Clinton:
#walmartmoms – HRC is emotionless, especially compared to Trump. She has a hard shell around her.
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
HRC is cold-hearted. If she was a man, we wouldn't be saying that. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
HRC hesitation: just about everyone says lack of trust #walmartmoms
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
Concerns re HRC: Don't think I can trust her. Liar. They are all liars but she gets caught a lot. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
HRC voters – support her because of her experience. No one more qualified. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
Columbus Walmart moms predict the result of the election:
Almost all #walmartmoms think HRC will win (9 of 10 resp). "DJT will say something that will scare people."
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
At least three Moms believe the system is rigged by the people in power to push the election toward Hillary. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
Agreement – media is in the bag for Hillary… #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
Moms believe HRC WILL win, but DT COULD win – unanimous. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 9, 2016
1st thoughts of DJT as pres? omg, loud, terrible, a joke, lookout, fear, instability, power, exciting. #walmartmoms
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 9, 2016
And on to Phoenix, where the answers were pretty similar.
how does elec make u feel? indiff, unsure, disapp, uneasy, conf, is this a joke, hopeless, scared spitless, lukewarm phx #walmartmoms
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 10, 2016
Phoenix Moms – how feel about campaign – hopeless, confused, scared spitless, chaotic, lukewarm, indifferent, is it a joke? #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
how do u feel about your choices? nauseated, painful, choosing which arm to cut off, limited, confused, difficult #walmartmoms
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 10, 2016
Word to describe the choice this fall: sad, better, impossible, nauseated, deceptive, painful, limited, confused, difficult #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
"I probably won't vote." #walmartmoms. We don't typically hear this. (even if it may be true.)
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 10, 2016
Phoenix Walmart moms on Donald Trump:
"I don't think i want to see a hothead at the table." "he acts like a 2yo. I have a 2yo." #walmartmoms.
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 10, 2016
Trump strengths – business mindset, appreciate he has no filter (you KNOW what he's thinking). #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
Worries abt DJT: inexp, wildcard, inexp, hothead, wildcard, inexp & unwilling to learn, ego size of disneyland, temperament. #walmartmoms
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 10, 2016
Concern that Trump will not be able to work well with people – he can't even get along with his own party. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
Fear that Trump will take a victory too far and trample on our constitutional rights. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
Phoenix Walmart moms on Hillary Clinton:
"HRC doesn't own her faults. But i still think she'd be better than the alternative" #walmartmoms Emails coming up more here than in OH
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 10, 2016
Group shows real divide on Hillary. The trust issue resurfaces, linked to email scandal. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
Hesitation on HRC – too many times she's been deceptive, never able to move on, doesn't own her faults/mistakes #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
And the winner is …
Consensus among these Phoenix Moms – Hillary will win. #walmartmoms
— Neil Newhouse (@KCkid) August 10, 2016
Most #walmartmoms in our PHX grp think HRC will win. "he's going to do something that will really shoot himself in the foot."
— Margie Omero (@MargieOmero) August 10, 2016
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