Republicans see impeachment turn against them. Democrats are afraid to be right

(Reuters) – Richard Sibilla, who holds his coffee and cigarette in front of a Starbucks in one of the most politically contested counties in the United States, remembers the memory of the election of President Donald Trump.

But to accuse him now? Sibilla can see a small advantage.

"After that, he's much more likely to win another election, as scary as it sounds," said 39-year-old Sibilla, a resident of Pinellas County, Florida, who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. "All will help him. "

Alarmed by a whistleblower's revelations, Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate the leader of the 2020 Democratic presidential race, former vice president Joe Biden and Democratic leaders of the House of Representatives of the United States, launched a formal dismissal investigation against the Republican President.

Among members of the public, interviews with more than 60 voters from four of the largest counties in the 2020 election showed that Republicans were largely convinced that the impeachment process would turn around and that Trump would be re-elected. Democrats, on the other hand, are afraid of being right.

Marc Devlin, a 48-year-old consultant from Northampton County, Pennsylvania, said he expects the investigation to "incense" the president's supporters. "It's my fear that it adds a flame to his fire with his base," he said. "I just fear" the party on the country ""

Throughout the 2020 election cycle, Reuters is monitoring voters in four regions that could determine the outcome of the November 3 presidential race: Pinellas County, Florida; Maricopa County, Arizona; Northampton County, Pennsylvania; and Racine County, Wisconsin.

Given the strong division of the electorate and the rules that govern the American states and determine the winner of the electoral college, these four states will be among the most targeted by presidential candidates next year.

Public opinion has time to change its mind before voters vote in November. But for now, the prospect of an indictment has hardly influenced opinion, formed mainly by party, according to interviews and polls.

A Reuters / Ipsos survey conducted Monday and Tuesday showed that 37% of respondents were in favor of a dismissal of the president against 45% of opponents. This figure of 37% was down from 41% three weeks earlier and 44% in May after the publication of former Special Adviser Robert Mueller's report on Russia's interference in the 2016 election. .

"I think he's done nothing wrong," said Joe D'Ambrosio, 78, who runs a hair salon in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and encourages the efforts of Trump to suppress illegal immigration.

Lee Snover, chair of the Northampton County Republican Committee, said she felt the indictment investigation was the latest example of the Democrats using unfair tactics to try to overthrow Trump. This has shown, she said, how Washington politicians are disconnected from the country.

"I did not have a single Republican who said or turned or went the other way. They laugh at it. I think that will help him, "said Snover, 50.

This feeling was shared at a meeting of United Republicans College at Arizona State University on Wednesday.

"They have this idea that everyone is on their side, that Trump is an impenetrable president, when there is only a minority," said 19-year-old Rose Mulet, speaking of Democratic leadership in Congress. . "It's not a reflection of the general public."

Moreover, the chances of indictment are long. None of the 45 American presidents has even been removed from office. Although Democrats control the House of Representatives, where they need a simple majority of votes, the Senate, controlled by Republicans, should vote by a two-thirds majority to dismiss the president.

This reality only frustrated discontented Democrats from what they saw as a series of Trump offenses, ranging from bragging women's genitals to Mueller's conclusion that Trump had interfered with his probe.

"I'm mad," said Barbara Lebak, a 66-year-old librarian who was working crossword puzzles on a bench in Racine County, Wisconsin.

Like Lebak, 56-year-old David Ferrell, a resident of Racine County, said he saw many reasons for deposing Trump, including what he called President's policy on the issue. immigration and inflammation of race relations.

"What took so long? That should have been done a long time ago, "said Ferrell. "I vote for a democrat, no matter who it is."

Polls and interviews suggest that most voters are solidly rooted, but some, like Chris Harman, have been swayed.

Harman, 52, who works in sales and marketing in Maricopa County, said he had voted for Trump in 2016 but that he would not do it in 2020. He said the President had already committed impenetrable offenses even before the Ukrainian scandal broke out.

"It should have been done a long time ago," said Harman, leaving a baseball game in Phoenix. "I do not vote for Trump. I tried, it was a great experience, but I will not try again. "

(The story refile to add the deleted word in the first paragraph)