Pennsylvania voters discuss state of the country

in our series three meals we travel to different states to break bread with voters and hear what's on their minds this morning two weeks before election day we visit the Battleground state of Pennsylvania the only debate between Democratic Senate candidate John Federman and Republican nominee amid Oz will take place tonight the CBS News Battleground tracker shows fetterman with a small lead of just two points meaning the race is still a toss-up our national correspondent jurika Duncan spoke with the voters in three Pennsylvania counties and got a taste of issues they're focused on Pennsylvania the Keystone State is vast in its beauty and instrumental as a Battleground for the highly contested Statewide elections so our first stop is Lucerne Pennsylvania now this is an interesting place because it neighbors Scranton Pennsylvania which is where President Biden grew up historically it's been a blue County until Trump flipped it red back in 2016. at Chuck's Main Street Diner a bustling breakfast spot in the heart of town hello there how are you all this morning good how are you we met friends Tony zambito and Jim Reno who come here just about every morning how are you guys feeling about some of the issues and the candidates well I think the Republicans are are going to do really well this time around because deflation open borders gas prices yeah everything's not good I'm looking for a candidate that's going to stimulate the economy get it moving give give my children my grandchildren opportunities to survive and get the things that we did over the last 20 years I would say that I have voted both ways Democrat and Republican I vote for the candidates I don't vote for a party Mike Bayer says he's most concerned about the polarization and hostility dominating the political climate it seems like everyone's got a side with one side and everyone's going to side with the other side and everything you hear is constant fighting between the lines so while everyone's bidding fighting politicians are running to the bank with our money Jeanette and John Stevenson have lived in Lucerne for 40 years where do you feel like our country is headed if people would get Biden a chance I mean I what's happening now I don't think would just be because of Biden who ever got in it's just the way things are next we're headed south to Northampton County now this is known as a political Bellwether a long time purple swing County that Trump narrowly won by 0.7 percent back in 2020. Main Street restaurant a local lunch favorite boasts the best cheesesteaks in town I don't necessarily always vote my party I feel as if I want to vote for the best person for the job but I don't know who that is is that frustrating it is very Maria and Vernon's grandson Jackson just turned 18. and he decided not to register to vote you just see the commercials on TV and everything and they're just they're all coming at each other and arguing about everything and uh I just don't feel like that's something to stress about yet Pennsylvania is one of eight states with an open seat for governor and with a lot at stake both President Biden and former president Trump have visited the state several times in recent months there's a lot of issues what's most pressing for you and your family I have two girls so the issue with Roe versus Wade is a big issue for me and if things don't change it could only go worse further for the girls or for the women in the future Kathy and her 26 year old son Joe both say they worry about the future of the country and their right to vote regardless of what your opinion is who you report whatnot every American has the right to vote people tried to take that from us because they didn't like what the majority of us said when you say people trying to take that from us are you referring to the January 6th yes January 6th they live in a democracy that has its choice [Music] our last stop brings us to the birthplace of democracy Philadelphia where issues like gun violence and crime are on the minds of many voters here in fact Pennsylvania as a whole reported a greater year-over-year increase in violence than any other state in the country Positano Coast is a popular restaurant among locals in Old cities everyone we spoke with here says the uptick in crime is a problem I have a daughter who is nine years old the alarming rate in you know an increase in school shootings really concerned me a lot it's just the babies are running around hurting each other and they don't realize they're part of a larger Community a larger cause and it's as if they don't value him in life anymore they don't value their own lives they don't see a future for themselves or their communities or their friends when you look at the candidates and your options are you pleased with what these politicians are offering you you know I mean I I am going to choose to vote for John betterman but I uh I'd like to have other options despite that 24 year old Greg Gaiman says this is a time where it's more important than ever to vote I mean a lot of people say your vote doesn't count and there's reasons behind that but it definitely does I mean it's the only way to make your voice heard realistically as an individual in this country and that is something we keep hearing time and time again you know I did a three Meal special a few years ago in Nevada and it is this idea that we've become so divided that those who are engaged in our political system feel like this is the time to make your voice heard um but economy crime abortion rights those were all sort of topics that we kept hearing you had people who didn't want to go on camera just because of the sensitivity of some of the things that we're talking about being judged and how they feel but I'm always struck at once people get going and they feel comfortable really expressing how they feel they have a lot to say they have a lot to say they really do well done jarika thank you so much

Channel: CBS Mornings

Views: 43,280

Keywords: CBS Mornings, CBS News, politics, video, cbs, news, pennsylvania, voter, voting, governor, senate, swing state, midterm election, election, three meals, series, jericka duncan, issues, concern

Id: 9vRKnIKx0Fw

Length: 6min 33sec (393 seconds)

Published: Tue Oct 25 2022