County: Westmoreland

On October 19, Donald Trump supporters gathered for a rally at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Latrobe in Westmoreland County, home to more than 350,000 people. 80 percent of the 1000 square miles that make up the district is forest or agricultural land. A Democratic presidential candidate hasn’t won the district since Bill Clinton in 1996. In 2020, Trump trailed Biden 63.5% to 35.2%.

The sentiments of the voters interviewed included an undercurrent of distrust about the integrity of the election, portrayals in the media, or promises made by politicians. Despite sharp divisions, there was a common sense that something important was at stake.

Voter: Walter Reineman

Reineman, CEO of Freeport Steel Co. in Pittsburgh, is a supporter of Harris but attended the Trump rally out of curiosity.

The 65-year-old says he has concerns about Trump’s leadership, mental state and polarization. He said Harris’ promises, while ambitious, offer stability.

While attending a Trump rally:

“After reading about the rallies and campaign events, I went out just to get a feel for the history. And maybe what’s unusual is that I’m not a supporter of Donald Trump… I think we should all get involved. Of course, I know many supporters on both sides. And there are many friends in both directions.

Why she’s voting for Harris:

“I will vote for Kamala Harris. And it’s not necessarily easy for me, but I think the stability is much greater. I don’t think most of what he promises will come true. ‘$50,000 to startups is a great idea, I don’t know how you implement it. But I think he’s stable.”

“Unfortunately, no matter what you think of (Trump) personally, I am very concerned about his mental health. I think the norm for what he’s been doing over the last few weeks is that he’s not someone you want in any leadership position, whether it’s a corporation, whether it’s a local government, whether it’s our largest office in the country and the world. I just don’t think it’s stable.”

Why he worries if Trump is elected:

“This is going to sound extreme, but I see very unfortunate parallels with 1930s Germany, where Hitler and the Nazi Party took control of the media, demonized individuals and groups, demonized the media, wanted to take control of the media, state institutions into the judicial system.” It imposes restrictions. I see parallels. I know a lot of people disagree, but a lot of people opposed it in the 30s.

“I have many family members who serve in the military and work for the Department of Defense or other government agencies, and I just worry about their future in government. If former President Trump keeps his promise, they can be replaced because they are neutral and not political in any way. Yes, they can be canned.

As we move towards unifying the country:

“I don’t appreciate the demonization of many Trump supporters; The majority are genuinely good people, and there are those on the other side of the aisle. I’m sorry to see this. I think the majority of people have much more in common with each other than with the extreme wings on either side.