Q+A Presenter Jack Tame is in the US in the lead up to the Election. Here's the first of his updates from the campaign.
I spent the last couple of days in Nassau County on Long Island (New York) before flying to Phoenix, Arizona. It’s a study in contrasting American landscapes, and two fairly different political environments.
Long Island = cold Atlantic winds, golden leaves, Italian surnames, perfectly-manicured lawns, and lawn signs for the local primary school sports teams – with the odd expression of political partisanship mixed in.
Arizona = intense, dry heat (37C!), red dirt, cacti, endless strip malls, and one of the largest Hispanic populations in the US.
Many houses in Nassau County, Long Island don’t have fences separating their properties. The county overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in 2020, but I was bemused to see a few examples of neighbours with directly contrasting political lawn signs: A Trump house right next door to a Harris house, with nothing but beautifully-kept grass between them. Might it get a fraction awkward?
Conversation of the day came at a polling booth in Maricopa County. Arizona is one of the so-called battleground states that will likely decide the election. Early voting has begun, and I was speaking with voters about their support as they cast their ballots.
Given the state of US politics, voters often express concern about the depths of political division in America.
But one guy I spoke with took a contrarian view.
“Division is good!” he said.
Divison is democracy. Whether civil or otherwise, it forces Americans to reckon with ideas and values in a way that citizens of other countries might not.
Meal of the day was a quick stop for superlative tacos at a Phoenix comida truck. More than 30% of Arizona’s population is Hispanic which makes for interesting electoral politics and excellent food.
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