CNN Presents – "All Over The Map: The Pennsylvania Voters Who May Decide the Race"
Episode Date: November 4, 2024

Episode Overview

In the final episode before Election Day, John King and Allie Malloy revisit Pennsylvania, the crucial battleground state whose suburban and exurban voters may ultimately decide the presidential race. The episode centers on in-depth conversations with three Republican voters—Michael Pacey, Joan London, and Cynthia Sabatini—who live in the Philadelphia suburbs and represent a significant but conflicted voting bloc: moderates and disaffected Republicans who all chose Nikki Haley in the primary, even after she dropped out. By exploring their thinking, anxieties, and logic, the episode provides a nuanced, real-time snapshot of the stakes and uncertainty reverberating through the electorate on the eve of the 2024 election.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Voters: Profiles and Stakes

[01:19]–[02:34]

• All three voters are white, older Gen X or Boomers, Republicans by registration, and live just outside Philadelphia.
• They each voted for Nikki Haley in the primary, signaling disaffection with Trump.
• Their views reflect a broader trend among suburban/exurban Republican voters in critical swing-state counties.

John King:
"They're all Republicans. All of them voted for Nikki Haley in the Pennsylvania primary long after she was gone from the race. And that makes them the voters that both candidates would love to win over." [01:34]

2. Michael Pacey: Voting Against, Not For

[02:57]–[07:41]

• Works at a meat processing plant in Bucks County.
• Decided early on not to vote for Trump; intends to vote Democrat, even if conflicted about it.
• Sees his vote as "against" Trump, not enthusiastic "for" Harris.
• Fears ongoing instability in the Republican party if Trump wins; hopes for the party's "return" if Trump loses.
• Skeptical Trump would ever concede defeat.

Key Quotes:

• "The scary part is, you know, I'm not voting for a candidate, I'm voting against a candidate." – Michael Pacey [02:14 & 04:46]
• "If Trump loses, then I think that the Republicans will start coming back to what they were, because they don't have that radical right side. They don't have the craziness and the instability." – Michael Pacey [05:08]
• "You know, in the back of your mind, you worry... My hope is, is that, you know, he loses and he just fades into the annals of history." – Michael Pacey [06:53]

3. Joan London: Character Over Party

[07:41]–[13:57]

• Philadelphia suburban lawyer, Reagan Republican, deeply concerned with US foreign policy.
• Originally considered a protest vote out of principle but changed after a Trump debate comment on Ukraine.
• Saw Trump’s call for a "negotiated settlement" in Ukraine as appeasement and antithetical to Republican values.

Key Insights:

• Chose to vote for Harris, despite policy disagreements, out of concern for national character and foreign policy.
• Worries about a deeply polarized nation, potential for the outcome to be decided in court, and the difficulty of voting identity among friends and family.

Memorable Quotes:

• "The last straw was where he said that we have to have a negotiated settlement in the Ukraine because President Putin has nuclear weapons, and we could have World War Three if we don't... That's appeasement. It's dangerous.” – Joan London [09:00]
• "Sometimes you have to say American first, conservative second, Republican third." – Joan London [02:21 & repeated [10:38]]
• "I have friends who are voting for Trump. I have friends who are voting for Harris... These are very difficult choices. I don't judge anybody." – Joan London [12:44]

4. Cynthia Sabatini: Uncertainty and Disillusion

[14:27]–[25:47]

• Lives in Delaware County (Media, PA), consults in pharmaceutical industry.
• Frustrated with both parties, especially local Democrats over taxes and fiscal issues.
• Disenchanted with the two-party system; has considered write-in candidates (including Nikki Haley).
• Not planning to vote for Trump under any circumstances due to character and January 6 ("nail in the coffin").

Key Issues:

• Hesitant about Harris, wanting more detailed economic policy answers; doubts about Harris's authenticity/positions.
• Still undecided, planning to drop off her mail-in ballot on Election Day itself.

Notable Quotes:

• "Trump is a non starter for me... January 6th to me was the breaking point, quite honestly." – Cynthia Sabatini [16:24 & 16:53]
• "I'm a numbers person. I want to know the specifics... We have a looming federal deficit. At some point the piper will have to be paid." – Cynthia Sabatini [18:18]
• "In a country of 340 million people, we're reduced to this. I would much prefer a parliamentary system." – Cynthia Sabatini [20:38]
• "I am praying for divine intervention. I may go back to church." (joking about the decision process) – Cynthia Sabatini [21:44]

5. The Broader Mood: Division, Anxieties, Motivation

[25:47]–[31:34]

• King and Malloy discuss pessimism, polarization, and "a sense of apprehension" they've encountered across battleground states.
• Many voters (especially moderates) are reluctant to discuss their votes publicly due to fear of backlash from their communities.
• Both hosts reflect on the darkness and anxiety surrounding this election cycle, contrasting sharply with traditional celebratory democratic process.
• Central theme: Voters are motivated by what they’re voting against rather than enthusiasm for a candidate.
• King highlights the pivotal nature of Nikki Haley’s primary votes: "155,000 people in a state that was last decided by 80,000 votes.” [26:42]

Highlight Quotes:

• "They do represent these unsatisfied voters... just the lack of choices and people making their choices based on being against something." – Allie Malloy [26:16]
• "There's a darkness almost around the country... an unsureness." – Allie Malloy [28:32]
• "Everybody is scarred in different ways by what happened four years ago. Everybody is scarred by what they saw on January 6, by the fact that the campaign really never ended. It's a whole new world." – John King [28:58]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Michael Pacey:

  • "I'm not voting for a candidate, I'm voting against a candidate." [02:14, 04:46]
  • "If Trump loses...the Republicans will start coming back to what they were..." [05:08]

• Joan London:

  • "The last straw was where he said we have to have a negotiated settlement in Ukraine... That's appeasement. It's dangerous." [09:00]
  • "Sometimes you have to say American first, conservative second, Republican third." [02:21, 10:38]
  • "I have friends who are voting for Trump... These are very difficult choices. I don't judge anybody." [12:44]

• Cynthia Sabatini:

  • "Trump is a non starter for me... January 6th was the breaking point." [16:24, 16:53]
  • "You need to answer questions on point. You need to provide more details about your economic plan. You need to provide more details about your vision for this country." [24:52]
  • "I think Trump's going to win." [25:45]

• Allie Malloy:

  • "They do represent unsatisfied voters...people making their choices based on being against something." [26:16]
  • "There's a darkness almost around the country on both sides or an unsureness." [28:32]
  • "Hearing from our voters does give me some hope because we hear from a lot of people and no one wants the unrest." [30:45]

• John King:

  • "Everybody is scarred in different ways by what happened four years ago...It's a whole new world." [28:58]

Structure of the Episode (Selected Timestamps)

• 01:00–02:34: John King sets the scene, introduces the importance of Pennsylvania and these three swing voters.
• 02:57–07:41: Michael Pacey interview – his reasons for opposing Trump, hope for GOP’s future.
• 07:41–13:57: Joan London interview – policy vs character, decision to vote for Harris, views on Ukraine, polarization.
• 14:27–25:47: Cynthia Sabatini interview – local politics, two-party frustrations, undecided, criteria for Harris, commitment not to vote for Trump.
• 25:47–31:34: King and Malloy debrief – what the interviews reveal about broader national anxieties, the potential legacy of this election, and the challenge of persuading disaffected voters.

Conclusion

This episode offers a window into the minds of persuadable Republicans in a pivotal swing state, revealing both the "apprehension" and high principle animating their choices. Most are making choices against their old party or its nominee, rather than for a new vision, concerned about the consequences for democracy and the future of both parties—especially the Republicans. The hosts underline that this “againstness” and widespread anxiety are key features of the 2024 race, and that even as voters move toward a decision, their unease, pessimism, and hope for renewal will shape the country long after Election Day.

For those seeking an unvarnished perspective on swing-state voter psychology—and what might make or break the presidency—this episode is essential listening.