76°
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
7 Day Forecast
Follow our weather team on social media

Why Walmart Moms are 'disgusted' and 'frustrated with 2016 election

7 years 8 months 3 weeks ago Wednesday, August 10 2016 Aug 10, 2016 August 10, 2016 11:16 AM August 10, 2016 in News
Source: ABC News

Independents. Hispanics. Moderates. Walmart Moms?

There's another demographic to watch in the 2016 race: women with children who have shopped at Walmart in the last month -- dubbed Walmart Moms. A group of them from the battleground states of Ohio and Arizona gave their takes on the presidential election in focus groups on Tuesday night.

The gatherings, spearheaded by Penn Schoen Berland and Public Opinion Strategies and closely watched by the media, originally began in 2008 as a way to study a pivotal group that makes up 14 to 17 percent of the American electorate.

They voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012, and for the respective GOP and Democratic congressional majorities in 2010 and 2014. With three months left until Election Day, here's what Walmart Moms think about the 2016 race for the White House.

An Impossible Choice: Trump or Clinton

Many participants expressed disgust and discouragement with both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump during the conversations, held around conference room tables between a group of ten strangers from all races and income levels.

"None of the candidates are close to a good example," said Deanna D., 32, from Phoenix. "In politics, nobody is ever great. But these two make me sick. With their integrity and moral values, it’s kind of gross."

In a straw poll ballot, some participants couldn't force themselves to make a decision, some openly admitting they may not vote -- an abnormality in focus groups and political polling.

"Even today, I could not tell you who I feel comfortable with running this country,” admitted Dana W., an African-American mother of two from Columbus.

Others tried to turn to a third party candidate. "If everyone banded together and learned about Gary Johnson, maybe we wouldn’t have to decide between Trump and Clinton," said Julie B., a mother of two from Columbus.

Hillary Clinton: 'Cold', 'Untrustworthy' and 'Scary'

Clinton was perceived as untrustworthy -- with eight of the 10 participants in the Ohio panel using that word to sum up their concerns with her.

"I think they are all liars, but I think she gets caught a lot," said Julie B., who works as an office administrator in Ohio. "The message I’m hearing is: Vote for me, because you don’t want him."

"It’s blatant lying," said Stephanie C. from Phoenix, referencing Clinton's statements about her use of a private email server to send sensitive government information. "The fact she wasn’t indicted was absolutely mind boggling."

Walmart Moms also painted a picture of an "emotionless" person who wouldn't be fun in social settings. Donna G. from Ohio said she'd invite Donald Trump to a barbecue over Clinton.

"Personally it would be more fun than Hillary in her suit sitting next to me," she said. And asked to choose an Olympic sport for Clinton, one panelist chose golf "because I find her boring."

Donald Trump: 'Doomed', 'Terrible' and 'Joke'

Walmart Moms were most concerned about Donald Trump's inexperience, using words like "instability" and "fear" to describe a potential Trump presidency.

"It’s kind of like sending a painter to do a doctor’s job. It makes no sense to me," said Ivania L. from Ohio. "I’d pick Minnie Mouse right now if it was today."

"His weakness is his mouth," said Donna G. from Ohio. "To me he has no filter. When you’re in political office that high, I think it can be a huge issue with him."

Africa C., 40, from Phoenix, said the decision was "like choosing which arm to cut off." She continued: "I don’t think he’s used to working with people….I think he sees himself as somebody who sees himself as kind of a dictator."

And asked which Olympic sport fit Trump best, one participant said "diving" because it was the most individualistic sport.

More News

Desktop News

Click to open Continuous News in a sidebar that updates in real-time.
Radar
7 Days