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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 5 noveMber 2018
For some, a vibrant U.S. economy complicates voting decision

By JOSH BOAK whose tax cuts for corpo- in midterms, growth would
AP Economics Writer rations and individuals are have to be even stronger
EXTON, Pennsylvania (AP) credited with helping boost to decisively help Republi-
— For many voters in Amer- growth this year. cans this year.
ica's affluent suburbs, a Jean Hoffman, a 53-year- "This time, the real uncer-
flourishing economy is forc- old real estate agent in tainty is turnout," Fair said.
ing a thorny dilemma for Chester County, is pon- "You can't say anything
the midterm elections. dering the college costs with much confidence
Do they vote Democratic, ahead for her two teen- about who is going be on
in part to protest President age daughters. She said which side of 50 percent."
Donald Trump for behavior she thinks voting Republi- To drive turnout, Pat Pro-
some see as divisive and can might help extend the prik, chair of the Bucks
unpresidential? Or do they economy's hot streak. County Republicans, has
back Republicans in hopes "I'm going to have two kids been speaking to groups of
that the economy will con- in college, and these are voters nightly and knocking
tinue thriving under the ma- my earning years," she said. on doors. She said people
jority party? "So for me, the economy is in wealthier parts of the
A healthy economy has the No. 1 priority." county tend to highlight
at least complicated their Hoffman said she feels less the economy in explain-
decision and blurred the concerned about Trump's ing their intention to back
outcome of the midterm confrontational style or Trump. Those in more mod-
elections . On Friday, the habit of assailing critics. est areas tend to stress non-
government reported that "It's like white noise at this economic issues, at least at
employers added a robust first.
250,000 jobs in October. In this Wednesday, Oct. "Economics isn't the first
And the unemployment 31, 2018 photo, Jean thing out of their mouth,"
Hoffman,above, poses for a
rate stayed at a five-de- photo at the Starbucks in Ex- Proprik said. "But when you
cade low of 3.7 percent. ton, Pa. In this Wednesday, bring it up, they jump on it."
At stake Tuesday is control Oct. 31, 2018 photo, Ross Ker- At 83, Dick Calef is a life-
of the House and Senate, shey, right, poses for a photo long Republican. He attri-
both now led by Repub- in Exton, Pa. butes the economic gains
lican majorities. Steady Associated Press in suburban Philadelphia
economic growth and a president who embraces to longer-term factors be-
a vigorous job market tariffs, disparages refugees yond Trump's policies, like
haven't been the clincher and attacks political op- the growth of internet and
in prosperous areas that ponents. With Pennsylvania health care companies.
were once seemingly safe also holding votes for gov- Calef is still unsure how he'll
Republican turf. Partly as ernor and a Senate seat, vote.
a result, many analysts say many said they were willing "I find myself voting to keep
Democrats stand a good to split their votes between a balance in the govern-
chance of regaining con- the parties. ment," he said. "I'm kind of
trol of the House even while "I'm not a fan of Donald fed up with the political en-
Republicans maintain the Trump," said 85-year-old vironment."
Senate. Ross Kershey. "He doesn't Jerry McNeff intends to split
The ambivalence of many respect checks and bal- his ballot between the par-
voters is evident in the Phil- ances. But he's certainly ties in Pennsylvania's House,
adelphia suburbs of Bucks done well for the econo- Senate and gubernatorial
and Chester counties. The my." Workers have been in- races.
landscape of rolling hills is A retired high school his- creasingly benefiting from point," she said. "Trump had the right philos-
dotted by shopping plazas tory teacher, Kershey is the economy's strength. Judging by the economy, ophy regarding the econo-
and luxury car dealerships, teaching a course on the Average pay growth for the status of the House ap- my," said McNeff, 72. "Taxes
by fieldstone and stucco Supreme Court at Immacu- over the past 12 months pears too close to call, said needed to be overhauled.
houses that fill cul-de-sacs. lata University in Malvern, has reached 3.1 percent, Ray Fair, a Yale economist. Regulations had become
Residents are likelier than a suburb of Philadelphia. its best year-over-year in- Using inflation and growth obstructive to industry."
the country as a whole to Those court cases were crease since 2009, the gov- data, Fair developed a But as he has aged, Mc-
have college degrees, and fresh in his mind as he ernment said Friday. Those model to forecast electoral Neff said, the economy
the median family income sipped tea and ate pan- gains have been concen- outcomes, which in 2016 has mattered less to him.
is about $100,000. cakes at an IHOP on a re- trated among affluent correctly showed that that He thinks more about his
Interviews with about a doz- cent afternoon. He objects Americans, though higher presidential election fa- five grandchildren. Every
en people elicited a range to Trump's recent threat minimum wages have also vored Republicans. report of a mass shoot-
of sentiments about wheth- to unilaterally suspend the helped raise the pay of For 2018, Fair's economy- ing at a school makes him
er and how the economy constitutional protection many lower-income work- based model is less favor- wonder about what could
might affect their votes. of birthright citizenship as ers. able than most political happen to them. And it
For some, all that matters a way to control undocu- Among people earning at surveys for Democratic stuns him that the federal
is the energized pace of mented immigration. least $100,000, 60 percent prospects to win the House. government has done little
job growth, which began Yet for all his antipathy to- approve of how Trump has But the gap isn't sufficient to prevent future shootings,
under President Barack ward the president, the handled the economy, ac- to draw a firm conclusion like seriously considering a
Obama and has continued strength of the economy cording to a survey by The about what will happen bill to expand background
under Trump. is at least giving Kershey Associated Press and NORC Tuesday. Because the par- checks.
Others, some of them life- pause: "I'll probably vote Center for Public Affairs Re- ty out of power — Demo- "If you say what is the No. 1
long Republicans, are find- Democratic, but I'm not search. That is a relative crats, in this case — gener- thing that keeps you up at
ing their loyalties tested by sure yet." advantage for a president ally enjoys an advantage night, that is it."q