Focus groups: High prices, Trump nodding off alarm swing voters in N. Carolina
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President Trump is in trouble with most of the North Carolina swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups from battleground states.
The big picture: Affordability problems are driving discontent among these Biden-to-Trump voters, and several expressed concerns about the president appearing to fall asleep on the job on recent occasions.
- 11 of the 14 participants, all of whom backed Trump last November, said they now disapprove of his job performance. And 12 of the 14 say they're more worried about the economy now than they were in January.
- "I'm having déjà vu," said Rich Thau, President of Engagious, who moderated the focus groups. "The same complaints swing voters voiced about [Joe] Biden — about inflation's toll, and his physical decline — mirror what many are now saying about Trump."
Zoom in: Most don't buy or like the president's line that affordability concerns are a "Democrat hoax."
- "I just think he's full of it, and he's always blaming Biden for everything instead of taking responsibility for what he's done," said Karen L., 61, of Wilmington, an independent.
- "Gas is more expensive, groceries are more expensive," said Stephen J., 54, of Cornelius, an independent. "But then you have to factor in, you know, this is someone who is chaffeured. This is someone who's shopped for. So I think that there's a disconnect between the average, everyday American people and the president."
How it works: Axios observed two online focus groups Tuesday night with 14 North Carolina voters who backed Joe Biden in 2020, then Trump in 2024. Eleven are self-described independents, one is Republican and two are Democrats.
- A focus group isn't a statistically significant sample like a poll, but the responses show how some voters are thinking and talking about current events.
What we're watching: Eleven of the 14 said they'd heard Trump has had trouble staying awake in meetings. They were asked to react to a video montage capturing instances in which Trump appears to nod off.
- Erica M., 45, of Wilmington, an independent, said she is concerned that Trump, like Biden, may be hiding or downplaying health issues.
- "I would just say he is too old. I mean, same thing with Biden," said David D., 61, of Waxhaw, an independent. "I don't know if it's any huge medical issue. I mean, you get to be 80 — this is not — CEOs aren't 80 for most companies. He just needs more sleep."
- Michael P., 53, of Davidson, a Republican, speculated differently: "Well, he also spends half the night tweeting."
- "It's not that him falling asleep is out of the ordinary given his age. But it is the most important job you could have in the country, so you probably shouldn't be falling asleep," said Evan D., 31, of Charlotte, an independent.
