DONALD TRUMP. HERE NOW IS CHRIS MATTHEWS WITH
THE DECIDERS.
THE DECIDERS. >>> GOOD EVENING FROM DAYTON,
OHIO.
OHIO. E PLURIBUS UNUM.
FROM MANY TO ONE.
WE ARE A COUNTRY OF MANY
BACKGROUNDS, RELIGIONS AND
POLITICAL VIEWS AND THAT
INCLUDES THE MAN IN THE WHITE
HOUSE.
HOUSE. SOME SAY HE IS DIVICIVE AND SOME
SAY HE IS A SAVIOR.
I CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SEE IF WE
CAN LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND
UNDERSTAND WHERE EACH SIDE IS
COMING FROM AND LEAVE THIS PLACE
WITH KNOWING WHY WE DISAGREE AND
MAYBE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY
AGREE.
AGREE. I’M JOINED FOR THE HOUR BY A
GROUP OF VOTERS IN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, OHIO THAT BACKED BARACK
OBAMA TWICE AND THEN VOTED FOR
DONALD TRUMP.
DONALD TRUMP. CAL PERRY HAS MORE ON THIS SWING
COUNTY.
COUNTY. >> DAYTON, OHIO HAS CONFLICTING
VIEWS ON THE STATE OF AMERICAN
POLITICS.
POLITICS. >> TRUMP ALL THE WAY.
>> WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR HIM?
>> I KNOW HE’S FOR THE PEOPLE.
>> IT’S HARD TO MAKE A LIVING
AND THEY TOOK THAT AWAY FROM US.
>> YOU ARE STILL A TRUMP GUY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. HE’S GREAT FOR THE ECONOMY.
ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY. NO QUESTION.
NO QUESTION. >> PEOPLE SAY THE JOBS ARE
COMING BACK.
COMING BACK. JOBS ARE COMING BACK?
>> FOR WHO?
>> AREAS OF LIGHT STILL EXIST IN
A CITY HIT HARD BY ECONOMIC
DEPRESSION, BUT SOME NEW
BUSINESSES ARE COMING BACK AND
OHIO LIKE MANY MID-WESTERN
STATES IS UP FOR GRABS.
TRUMP SUPPORTERS WANT TO FRAME
THINGS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AN
ECONOMIC TURN AROUND WHILE
DEMOCRATS NEED TO TURN OUT THE
VOTE IN PLACES FEELING
DISENFRANCHISED.
DISENFRANCHISED. >> WE HAVE TO GET OUT AND TALK
TO THE VOTERS.
>> SO WE DID.
IN McINTOSH PARK WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP HERE IN
DAYTON.
DAYTON. >> THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO CAN CHANGE HERE IN
THE CITY OF DAY IN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, OHIO.
COUNTY, OHIO. UPON DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE ELECTORAL
COLLEGE.
COLLEGE. >> THEN IT DON’T MATTER.
>> DONALD TRUMP VISITED OHIO
OVER TWO DOZEN TIMES DURING HIS
CAMPAIGN.
CAMPAIGN. MONTGOMERY COUNTY TWICE.
HILLARY CLINTON NEVER CAME HERE.
IT’S SOMETHING THAT LOCAL
DEMOCRATS ARE KEENLY AWARE OF.
>> IN 2016, THERE WAS A FIRST
TIME SINCE 1988 THAT THE NOMINEE
DID NOT COME TO THAT THIS AREA.
YOU GOT TO COME AND BE PRESENT.
>> REPUBLICANS WILL POINT TO LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT.
UNEMPLOYMENT. MOST RECENT NUMBERS PUT IT AT
3.2% IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
>> PEOPLE VOTE WITH THEIR POCKET
BOOKS.
BOOKS. WE HAVE EMPLOYERS WHO CAN’T FIND
EMPLOYEES.
EMPLOYEES. >> MONTGOMERY COUNTY RANKS THIRD
IN SYNTHETIC OPIOID DEATHS.
>> THIS IS THE WORST HIT AREA.
WE LOST A LOT OF CITIZENS AND WE
NEED TO GET THEM BACK IN AND
CLEAN THE RECORDS.
>> DEMOCRATS SAY UNEMPLOYMENT
STATISTICS ALONE ARE NOT THE
WHOLE STORY.
WHOLE STORY. >> FOR THIS CITY, IT’S ABOUT
GETTING HIGH QUALITY AND GOOD
PAYING JOBS.
PAYING JOBS. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING
TWO AND JOBS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T
MAKE IT ON WHAT THEY ARE MAKING.
WITH THE MANUFACTURING OVER THE
PAST 30 YEARS, THAT HAD AN
EFFECT ON THE REGION.
>> JOBS ARE COMING BACK, BUT
THEY ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH PAYING.
>> YOU CAN FIND A JOB, BUT PAY
IS SO LOW, THAT PEOPLE ARE ON
BENEFITS WHILE THEY ARE WORKING.
WHICH IS REALLY HARD.
>> AT GORDON’S PAWN SHOP,
ECONOMIC SUCCESS IS MEASURED IN
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SELLING OR NOT
SELLING.
SELLING. THE OWNER IS A TRUMP SUPPORTER.
>> WE ARE LIKE A PENDULUM.
WHEN THE ECONOMY IS GOOD, THE
CUSTOMERS ARE NOT COMING IN AS
OFTEN.
OFTEN. >> THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER?
>> FOR THE CUSTOMERS’ SAKE, A
LOT ARE GETTING EMPLOYMENT AND
WE DIDN’T SEE THAT A WHILE AGO.
>> FOR PEOPLE LIKE FIELDS,
ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE
WORTHLESS.
WORTHLESS. >> THERE IS NO CANDIDATE THAT IS
COMING DOWN HERE TRYING TO
CONNECT WITH US ON A PERSONAL
LEVEL TO SEE WHAT’S GOING ON ON
THE WEST SIDE AND SEE WHAT WE
NEED.
NEED. >> FOR THE NEXT HOUR, WE HEAR
FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS,
TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND CRITICS.
OUR LOCATION IS A FAMILY OWNED
SURPLUS STORE IN DOWNTOWN
DAYTON, OHIO.
DAYTON, OHIO. STACY BENSON, A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
AT A UNION, A DEMOCRAT WHO
WORKED AT THE GM PLANT AND THE
PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE.
THIS IS KATE, A FREE LANCE
FROMMIC DESIGNER AND LONG TIME
DAYTON RESIDENT AND WORKED AT
THE GM PLANT UNTIL IT WAS CLOSED
IN 2008.
IN 2008. A REPUBLICAN WHO VOTED FOR
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
PRESIDENT TRUMP. LET’S START HERE RIGHT NOW.
DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP CARE ABOUT
PEOPLE LIKE YOU?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> [INAUDIBLE]. >> PEOPLE WHO EARNS LIKE HE
EARNS OR LIKE HIS FRIENDS AND
FAMILY EARNS.
FAMILY EARNS. HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT WORKING
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. WITH LIVING WAGES AND BENEFITS.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE AGREE WITH
THAT?
THAT? HOW MANY PEOPLE DON’T AGREE WITH
THAT?
THAT? YOU, SIR, IN THE RED.
I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE
THINKING.
THINKING. ME WHY YOU THINK TRUMP LOOKS OUT
FOR REGULAR MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE
AND NOT JUST THE 1%.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I HEAR ABOUT 1
PERCENTERS AND I KEEP HEARING
THAT IN THE POLITICAL
DISCUSSIONS.
DISCUSSIONS. IN MY MIND, THEY WILL FIND A
WAY.
WAY. IT’S NOT LIKE YOU ARE GETTING
RID OF A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT
AFFECTED THEM.
AFFECTED THEM. >> YOU THINK TRUMP LOOKS OUT FOR
YOU?
YOU? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> HE CARES ABOUT YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. I THINK HE’S HONEST.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO AGREE OR
DISAGREE.
DISAGREE. I GO BY FACES.
THE FACE IN FRONT OF YOU.
I LIKE THE OTHER FACE BETTER,
BUT GO AHEAD.
>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY THE
PRESIDENT CARES ABOUT ALL OF US
BECAUSE HE PROVIDES
OPPORTUNITIES.
OPPORTUNITIES. HE DOESN’T MAKE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH EVERY ONE OF US, BUT HE
CREATES OPPORTUNITIES SO WE CAN
USE OUR TALENTS TO MAKE A LIVING
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT’S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE I GO, I WANT TO GO TO
SOMEONE WHO DISAGREES.
BACK THERE.
BACK THERE. CAN WE GET A MIKE?
>> I JUST KNOW HE CARES ABOUT
HIS FAMILY CLUSTER AND NOTHING
PAST THAT.
PAST THAT. >> LET ME GO TO ON THIS.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE STATS
AND STATS CAN BE COLD, BUT THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS WAY DOWN,
ABOUT TWO POINTS DOWN FROM WHEN
TRUMP CAME IN.
WHAT ELSE?
WHAT ELSE? WAGES ARE ABOUT A BUCK MORE NOW.
SO THERE HAS BEEN MODEST
INCREASE.
INCREASE. DOES HE CARE ABOUT YOU?
IS HE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU?
>> I DON’T KNOW.
I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP THINKS BUS, THE
LITTLE PEOPLE.
LITTLE PEOPLE. I THINK ANYBODY THAT RUNS FOR
PRESIDENT CARES SOMETHING ABOUT
THE COUNTRY THAT THEY LIVE IN.
I THINK HE’S AN ECONOMIST AND A
BUSINESSMAN AND HONESTLY I THINK
HE SEES THIS AS A CONQUEST.
I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT AND I
WANT TO TURN THIS COUNTRY
AROUND.
AROUND. THE POLITICIANS, THE STATE THAT
THIS COUNTRY WAS IN WHEN HE TOOK
OVER WAS SUCH A MESS
ECONOMICALLY THAT WE NEEDED A
MIRACLE.
MIRACLE. >> LET’S TALK AS I SAID, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOWN.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING
TWO JOBS JUST TO PAY FOR THE
FAMILY EXPENSES.
FAMILY EXPENSES. DO YOU FEEL THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE VOTED
FOR TRUMP?
FOR TRUMP? >> I THINK PEOPLE WERE LOOKING
FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THE PROGRESS WASN’T AS FAST AS
PEOPLE THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN.
BEEN. WHEN YOU HEAR THIS JOBS, JOBS,
JOBS, PEOPLE ARE WORKING TWO
JOBS TO MAKE A LIVING.
THAT’S NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
WE SHOULD HAVE ONE JOB.
THAT INCREASES THE QUALITY OF
FOR FAMILIES.
FOR FAMILIES. >> WITH THE HIGHLY EDUCATED JEB
BUSH OR MITT ROMNEY TYPES, OR
HILLARY CLINTON, THE IVY
LEAGUERS, WHY DID THEY CHOOSE
TRUMP OVER THEM?
>> HE’S GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES.
HE PICKS AT THINGS AND THAT
MAKES THEM WANT TO COME OUT AND
VOTE, BUT IT’S EMPTY PROMISES.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
TRUMP VOTERS.
TRUMP VOTERS. YOU VOTED FOR TRUMP.
IF YOU PUT UP THAT STUFF BECAUSE
YOU LIKE SOMETHING ELSE, FOR
EXAMPLE, HE CALLS PEOPLE NAMES.
ALL THE THINGS YOU TOLD YOUR
KIDS NOT TO DO.
DON’T MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE’S
APPEARANCES.
APPEARANCES. DON’T BE A BULLY.
DON’T LIE.
DON’T LIE. TELL THE TRUTH.
DO YOU THINK HE LIVES UP TO THE
STANDARD YOU SET FOR YOUR
FAMILY?
FAMILY? >> NOT NECESSARILY, BUT THEN
AGAIN, YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY. HE’S SHOWING RESULTS.
I RUN A SMALL BUSINESS NOW.
MY NUMBERS ARE GROWING.
THEY ARE GROWING SO WELL, I AM
ABLE TO ADD STAFF.
WHEN I ADD STAFF, THAT MAKES THE
BUSINESS GROW MORE.
>> WHAT ARE KICKED IT INTO GEAR?
THE LOWER TAXINGSES OR THE
DEREGULATION?
DEREGULATION? >> PEOPLE GETTING EMPLOYED AND
GETTING HIGHER WAGES AND GETTING
OUT AND SPENDING MONEY.
>> WHAT DID HE DO TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN?
HAPPEN? >> HE TALKED TO INDUSTRIES AND
COMPANIES AND GOT THEM TO
INVEST.
INVEST. >> HOW MANY AGREE WITH YOU?
HOW MANY THINK HE DIDN’T HELP?