SEBASTIAN, Fla. — Was Florida whispering? Was Wisconsin shouting?
Suddenly these two questions, rooted in states that Donald Trump carried only five months ago, are at the forefront of American political discussion and calculation.
kAmpD %CF>A AC6DD6D 7@CH2C5 H:E9 E2C:77D =:<6 2 a`DE\46?EFCJ :?42C?2E:@? @7 #665 $>@@E 2?5 (:==:D w2H=6J[ 2?5 2D t=@? |FD< 4@?E:?F6D >2C49:?8 E9@F89 E96 7656C2= 3FC62F4C24J =:<6 (:==:2> %64F>D69 $96C>2? :? 9:D r:G:= (2C C2>A286 E9C@F89 E96 $@FE9 E@ E96 D62[ E96 A@=:E:42= =:46?D6 E96 EH@ >6? E@@< 7@C 8C2?E65 ?@H =@@<D 72C >@C6 7C28:=6]k^Am
kAm%96 E6?E2E:G6?6DD :? AF3=:4 DFAA@CE 7@C 3C@25 E2C:77D[ 2?5 E96 8C@H:?8 DFDA:4:@? @7 s~vt 4@DE\4FEE:?8 :?:E:2E:G6D[ >2?:76DE65 :? E9C66 62C=J pAC:= 6=64E:@?D E92E[ :? @C5:?2CJ E:>6D[ >:89E 92G6 D66>65 =:<6 E96 ?@\D66\F>D E92E 2C6 24E:G6 5FC:?8 52H? 2?5 5FD< :? E9:D DE2E6 2E E9:D E:>6 @7 E96 J62Ci 92C5=J ?@E:4623=6] }@E D:?46 `heh 92D 2 DA64:2= 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 6=64E:@? C6AC6D6?E65 2 DF3DE2?E:2= C63F77 E@ 2 D:EE:?8 AC6D:56?E]k^Am
kAmqFE :? C646?E 52JD[ A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DED 92G6 4@>6 E@ C62=:K6 H92E 6?E@>@=@8:DED 92G6 <?@H? 7@C 564256Di q:E:?8 >:586D[ 2D ?@\D66\F>D 2C6 D@>6E:>6D 42==65[ 42? DE:?8] }@H[ %62> %CF>A :D C6249:?8 7@C E96 A@=:E:42= 6BF:G2=6?ED @7 9J5C@4@CE:D@?6 4C62> @C 42=2>:?6 =@E:@? E@ D@@E96 E96 A2:? @7 EH@ 4@?8C6DD:@?2= C246D E96J H@? 2?5 @?6 DE2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE C246 E96J =@DE]k^Am
kAm%96 EH@ G:4E@C:6D :? DA64:2= u=@C:52 6=64E:@?D >6C6=J C6EFC?65 #6AF3=:42?D E@ w@FD6 D62ED E96J H@? :? }@G6>36C] qFE E96 (:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE 4@?E6DE 4@?7:C>65 2 c\b =:36C2= >2;@C:EJ :? 2? 6=64E:@? E92E |FD<[ H9@ A@FC65 Sa_ >:==:@? :?E@ E96 C246 6G6? 2D 96 F?56C>:?65 9:D @H? 4C65:3:=:EJ[ DF886DE65 >:89E Q564:56 E96 7FEFC6 @7 p>6C:42 2?5 (6DE6C? r:G:=:K2E:@?]Qk^Am
kAm%96 C6DF=ED :? u=@C:52 D6?E v~! DE2E6 $6?] #2?5J u:?6 :?E@ E96 w@FD6 D62E G242E65 H96? |:4926= (2=EK 3642>6 %CF>AVD ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ 25G:D6C[ 2?5 y:>>J !2EC@?:D[ u=@C:52VD 49:67 7:?2?4:2= @77:46C[ :?E@ E96 @A6?:?8 4C62E65 H96? |2EE v26EK C6D:8?65 9:D w@FD6 D62E[ @?=J E@ 92G6 9:D ?@>:?2E:@? 2D %CF>AVD 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= H:E95C2H? 7@==@H:?8 2==682E:@?D @7 5CF8 FD6 2?5 D6IF2= >:D4@?5F4E] q@E9 ?6H =2H>2<6CDV >2C8:?D @7 G:4E@CJ H6C6 92=7 2D =2C86 2D E96:C AC65646DD@CDV]k^Am
kAm%96 EH:? 4@?8C6DD:@?2= DA64:2= 6=64E:@?D[ 4@?5F4E65 :? u=@C:52VD >:54@2DE 2?5 H6DE6C? A2?92?5=6[ C2:D65 D6C:@FD BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96 A@AF=2C:EJ @7 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD 62C=J A@=:4:6D 2?5 v~! AC@DA64ED :? ?6IE J62CVD >:5E6C> 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 6=64E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 C6DF=ED DF886DE E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 D:8?:7:42?E D66A286 :? E96 a_ae 4@?E6DED[ H96? %CF>A H:== ?@E 36 @? E96 32==@E] %96 s6>@4C2ED 82:?65 c` D62ED :? E96 a_`g >:5E6C>D[ H96? %CF>A H2D :? E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 3FE H2D?VE CF??:?8 9:>D6=7] %9@D6 C6DF=ED C6EFC?65 E96 s6>@4C2ED E@ 4@?EC@= @7 E96 w@FD6[ 2 C6DF=E E96J 9@A6 E@ C6A62E ?6IE J62C]k^Am
kAmx? E96 4@2DE2= u=@C:52 5:DEC:4E[ =@42E65 36EH66? $E] pF8FDE:?6 2?5 s2JE@?2 q6249[ 2 E9:C5 @7 E96 C68:DE6C65 G@E6CD C646:G6 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ 36?67:EDj s6>@4C2ED[ H9@ 92G6 AC@7:E65 7C@> 762CD 23@FE E96 DE23:=:EJ @7 E96 :?4@>6 DFAA=6>6?E 7@C @=56C p>6C:42?D D:?46 E96 `hga >:5E6C>D[ 92G6 C6G:G65 E96 :DDF6 2D |FD< 92D D6?E 9:D s~vt H2CC:@CD :?E@ E96 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ p5>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^Am
kAm$A6?46C v@:56=[ 2? pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DE[ D2:5 E96 s6>@4C2ED 925 DF4466565 :? @G6CA6C7@C>:?8 :? 566A=J 4@?D6CG2E:G6 5:DEC:4ED[ AC:>2C:=J 3J 2AA62=:?8 E@ E96 4@==686\65F42E65 G@E6CD H9@ @?46 H6C6 C6=:23=6 6=6>6?ED @7 E96 #6AF3=:42? A@=:E:42= 4@2=:E:@? 3FE H9@[ :? C646?E J62CD[ 92G6 >:8C2E65 E@ E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ]k^Am
kAmQs6>@4C2ED 92G6 2 =@?8 H2J E@ 8@[ 3FE E96J D9@F=5 766= 36EE6C 23@FE E96 H@C=5 C:89E ?@H[Q D2:5 %9@>2D p] s6G:?6[ 2 s6>@4C2E:4 A@=:E:42= DEC2E68:DE] Q%96D6 C246D E6== FD A6@A=6 2C6 FAD6E 23@FE H92E :D 92AA6?:?8 :? (2D9:?8E@? — 2?5 E96J E6== FD E92E p>6C:42?D 2C6 H@CC:65 23@FE E96D6 5:D3FCD6>6?ED @7 >@?6J E92E E9C62E6? 56>@4C2E:4 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 @FC :?DE:EFE:@?D] !6@A=6 2C6 C6AF=D65 3J :E]Qk^Am
kAmq@E9 A2CE:6D A@FC65 6?@C>@FD 2>@F?ED @7 >@?6J :?E@ E96 E9C66 42>A2:8?D]k^Am
kAm%@E2= DA6?5:?8 :? E96 (:D4@?D:? 4@FCE C246 >2J 9:E S`__ >:==:@?[ >2<:?8 :E E96 4@DE=:6DE ;F5:4:2= C246 :? 9:DE@CJ] s6>@4C2ED C2:D65 `_ E:>6D 2D >F49 >@?6J 2D E96 v~! 42?5:52E6 :? 2 =@D:?8 42FD6 :? E96 4@2DE2= u=@C:52 C246] |FD< 82G6 S` >:==:@? 4964<D E@ EH@ (:D4@?D:? G@E6CD[ @776C65 E9@D6 D:8?:?8 A6E:E:@?D 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 E96:C 4@?E24E :?7@C>2E:@? S`__ 6249j 2?5 AC6D6?E65 G@E6CD H:E9 Sa_ :7 E96J H6C6 A9@E@8C2A965 9@=5:?8 2 A:4EFC6 @7 (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ yF586 qC25 $49:>6=[ 2 7@C>6C #6AF3=:42? 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= H9@ C2? 2D 2 %CF>A DFCC@82E6 3FE H2D 56762E65 3J s2?6 r@F?EJ yF586 $FD2? rC2H7@C5[ 2 7@C>6C 49:67 4@F?D6= E@ 2 s6>@4C2E:4 8@G6C?@C]k^Am
kAm#6AF3=:42?D D@F89E E@ >:?:>:K6 E96 52>286 :? E96 E9C66 6=64E:@?D] Qp?J C6AC:6G6 7C@> E96 92?8>6?[ ?@ >2EE6C 9@H 3C:67[ :D 2=H2JD H6=4@>6[ 2?5 E92EVD H92E E96 s6>@4C2ED 92G6[Q p=6I r2DE6==2?@D[ 2 v~! DEC2E68:DE H9@ 925 4=@D6 E:6D E@ 6DE23=:D9>6?E #6AF3=:42?D DF49 2D v6@C86 (] qFD9 2?5 |:EE #@>?6J[ D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H] Q%96J DE:== 5@?VE 92G6 2?J :562 9@H E@ 8@G6C?[ E96J 5@?VE 92G6 2 G:D:@?[ E96J 5@?VE 92G6 =6256CD[ E96J 5@?VE 92G6 AC@E28@?:DED 7@C E96 >@G:6 >F49 =6DD 2 D4C:AE] %96 =6256C @7 E96 s6>@4C2ED :D s@?2=5 %CF>A[ 3642FD6 2== E96 s6>@4C2ED 2C6 E@52J :D 2 3C2<6 A652= @? 9:D 42C] r2CD ?665 3C2<6 A652=D[ 3FE E92E 5@6D?VE >62? E96J ECFDE E96> E@ E2<6 E96> H96C6 E96J ?665 E@ 8@]Qk^Am
kAmtG6? H:E9 E96 @AE:>:D> E92E E96 s6>@4C2ED 766= 27E6C E96 %F6D52J C6DF=ED[ E96 A2CEJ C6>2:?D 4@?GF=D65 :? 5632E6 23@FE :ED A2E9 7@CH2C5 2?5 H@CC:65 23@FE :ED 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmyFDE 367@C6 E96 32==@E:?8 3682? :? u=@C:52 2?5 (:D4@?D:?[ v@G] v2G:? }6HD@> @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ DA62<:?8 @? Q#62= %:>6 (:E9 q:== |296C[Q 492C24E6C:K65 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJVD 3C2?5 2D QE@I:4[Q D2J:?8[ Q%9:D :D 2? 6I:DE6?E:2= >@>6?E[ 2?5 @FC F?:EJ 282:?DE %CF>A :D ?@E :?4C62D:?8 @FC ECFDE[ :EVD ?@E 96=A:?8 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 3C2?5]Qk^Am
kAmr2DE6==2?@D :D 4@CC64E :? 2C8F:?8 E92E E96 s6>@4C2ED 2C6 G:CEF2==J =6256C=6DD[ H:E9 E96 A2CEJVD DE2?52C5 36:?8 96=5 9:89 AC:?4:A2==J 3J $6?] q6C?:6 $2?56CD @7 '6C>@?E[ H9@ 42F4FD6D H:E9 E96 s6>@4C2ED 3FE 56D4C:36D 9:>D6=7 2D 2 56>@4C2E:4 D@4:2=:DE[ 2?5 3J #6A] p=6I2?5C:2 ~42D:@\r@CE6K @7 }6H *@C<] $2?56CD 92D 2? gd A6C46?E D4@C6 :? E96 >@DE C646?E p>6C:42?D 7@C s6>@4C2E:4 p4E:@? C2E:?8D[ 4@?D:56C65 2 >62DFC6 @7 A@=:E:42= =:36C2=:D>[ 2?5 ~42D:@\r@CE6K D4@C65 `__ A6C46?E]k^Am
kAmp?5 H9:=6 ~42D:@\r@CE6K >:?:>:K6D E96 7C:4E:@? 36EH66? =67E\=62?:?8 s6>@4C2ED =:<6 96CD6=7 2?5 >@C6 >@56C2E6 A2CEJ >6>36CD[ E92E :D E96 2I:D @? H9:49 E96 5632E6 C6G@=G6D] %96 s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6D H9@ A6C7@C>65 H6== %F6D52J H6C6 >@56C2E6D] qFE :E H2D $2?56CD[ H9@ EH:46 C2? 7@C AC6D:56?E[ H9@ 3C@F89E 9:D Qu:89E:?8 ~=:82C49JQ 42>A2:8? E@ E96 u=@C:52 5:DEC:4E E92E H2D E96 A@=:E:42= 32D6 @7 v@G] #@? s6$2?E:D]k^Am
kAms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.