On Tuesday and Wednesday, CNN's New Day aired pre-recorded segments in which co-anchor Chris Cuomo spoke with six New Hampshire voters about the presidential race.
Although the group was supposedly balanced by including two Republicans, two Democrats, and two independents, four of the six participants -- including one of the Republicans -- seemed more aligned with Democrats in their interests and thinking.
One of the Republicans actually seemed to talk up socialist and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders's plan for the government to offer free college education while the other Republican voiced support for same-sex marriage.
After one participant complained about candidates offering "templates" instead of specifics, Republican Claira Monier brought up Sanders's proposal for free education. When host Cuomo warned that such a proposal would be unpopular, she persisted in talking up the self-identified socialist's plan.
CLAIRA MONIER, REPUBLICAN: Well, I think Bernie Sanders has come up with some very different positions than a normal template.
CUOMO: What's his big idea?MONIER: Okay, his idea of education being free. Education-
CUOMO: Free college, he says.
MONIER: Yes, yes. He said that.
CUOMO: And they go like this (Cuomo closes his eyes, holds his nose, and shakes his head quickly) when they hear that.
MONIER: Well, that's all right. But at least-
CUOMO: Nobody likes that idea.
MONIER: -discuss it. I know, but you need to discuss it.
The two interviewees who were identified on screen as Democrats were consistently liberal in their views, citing issues like national service to pay for education, and the fear of racial profiling as important to them.
Another participant, Nyomi Guzman -- whose party preference was not identified on screen, but who was presumably one of the two independents -- also sounded liberal as she complained about electing "old, white men again and again and again," and cited "equal pay" as being important to her. Guzman:
We need diversity of candidates, then, if we want new perspectives. We can't keep reelecting, like, old white men again and again and again. And I'm okay to do it if it's the right old, white man. But I also think that with diversity of people comes diversity of opinion.
The other independent seemed more aligned with Republicans as he voiced concerns about terrorism and was critical of Hillary Clinton's handling of her email during her time at the State Department.
Below are transcripts of relevant portions of the segments from CNN's New Day from Tuesday and Wednesday:
#From Tuesday, June 16, at 6:50 a.m.:
CHRIS CUOMO: What really matters is: What do you want? What are the needs of people? What can the candidates do to win your vote? So we're going to start a series of conversations with real people in key battleground states. We started in New Hampshire and the famous Chez Vachon cafe. It's been the place through the years to see, and all the candidates go there and interrupt people's breakfasts, like I did. No, these people wanted to do this. We sat down with two Republicans, two Democrats, two independents to find out what really counts. Here's what they say.
When I was reading through everybody's bio here about what matters to you, I was like, where is this stuff about how the left wants to destroy America, and, you know, that's why I'm going to stick with the right? And where's the stuff on the other side about how the right wants to make sure that the LGBT community has to stay in a stone cave for the next -- you know, it seemed like you guys aren't saying the same things that I'm hearing said to me.(...)
CUOMO: So when they're talking about how they'll feel about the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, you're listening.
NYOMI GUZAMAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: Yes.CUOMO: That matters. Do other people or are other people listening to that?
ELLE CARUSO, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: I've met very few people in my generation that still oppose it. And so I really think it's a very important issue, but I also do think that, as time goes on, it's something that will naturally just kind of fall into place. Gays should be able to get married. That shouldn't even still be a question.
NYOMI GUZMAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: We need diversity of candidates, then, if we want new perspectives. We can't keep reelecting, like, old white men again and again and again. And I'm okay to do it if it's the right old, white man. But I also think that with diversity of people comes diversity of opinion.
(...)
CLAIRA MONIER, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: I want you to know I have done my bit and I have stopped contributing to various PACs asking for money. I have stopped giving money to those particular groups.
#From Wednesday, June 17, at 6:50 a.m.:
CLAIRA MONIER, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER/REPUBLICAN: My major concern is the Social Security system
NYOMI GUZMAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER: Equal pay.
MATT WILHELM, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER/DEMOCRAT: Expanding national service and making it a way people can afford college.
TED GORSKI, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER/INDEPENDENT: A plan on terrorism.
TASHAWN BAKER, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTER/DEMOCRAT: I think that, you know, a lot of the social issues that are coming into play, as a mother, that I'm really terrified. I'm very terrified, and I want to see those matters addressed.
CHRIS CUOMO: So what does it say to you, Tashawn, when I say, "All right, I hear you. I'm going to make sure there are better paying jobs, and I'm going to make sure there is more opportunity" And I leave it at that. What message does that send to you?
BAKER: I guess, in the beginning, I kind of think that everybody has a song and dance, and they have a template, and everybody is trying to fit into this template.
CLAIRA MONIER, REPUBLICAN: Well, I think Bernie Sanders has come up with some very different positions than a normal template.
CUOMO: What's his big idea?MONIER: Okay, his idea of education being free. Education-
CUOMO: Free college, he says.
MONIER: Yes, yes. He said that.
CUOMO: And they go like this (Cuomo closes his eyes, holds his nose, and shakes his head quickly) when they hear that.
MONIER: Well, that's all right. But at least-
CUOMO: Nobody likes that idea.
MONIER: -discuss it. I know, but you need to discuss it.
CUOMO: Elle, what's the most important issue for you?
ELLE CARUSO, REPUBLICAN: Probably the economy and taxes. Like my family is starting a small business.
CUOMO: A bakery, right?
CARUSO: Yeah, exactly. That really influences the way I want to vote, that how the candidates stand to lower taxes, keep them the same
CUOMO: What do you hear?
CARUSO: I really like Rand Paul's, kind of, just, lower taxes, all of that. I'm a fan of Carly Fiorina.
CUOMO: Because she ran a business.
CARUSO: Yeah, exactly.
CARUSO: I'm a fan of Carly Fiorina.
CUOMO: Because she ran a business.CARUSO: Yeah, exactly.
CUOMO: So one of the things we've been hearing a lot is, "Hey, look, I'm on the Republican side. I'm running, and I know Hillary is the big dog on the other side. And I'll tell you why I'm better. Because she's got this email scandal, and she has conflict of interest, and that's why I'm better." Does that work?
TED GORSKI, INDEPENDENT: I see it as an integrity issue. Now, the emails are just one thing. When you say you stand for women's issues, but your foundation takes money from governments who have demonstrated anti-woman behavior, that's another integrity issue. What troubles me now is that she doesn't want to answer any questions on it. Now, if you want to be President, there's going to be issues like this.
CUOMO: You don't think she's just waiting because it's just too soon?
GORSKI: Well, maybe she's waiting.
CUOMO: Because it will never end.
GORSKI: But for people like me who are kind of looking at this, it's -- and I'm not the only person who's looking from this perspective.
CUOMO: Absolutely.
GORSKI: When you're delaying the response, it concerns me as, is this what I'm going to see as President?
[Monier says her friends are "not that happy with Hillary" and predicts that her polling against other Democratic candidates will likely change]
CUOMO: Does anybody in this race right now qualify as an outsider for you?
MONIER: Probably I would label Ben Carson as an outsider.
CUOMO: Ben Carson, he's a brain surgeon. Which makes you question his intelligence that he wants to get into politics when he's a brain surgeon.
MONIER: Right, but hearing him, I focus on the issue I'm concerned about, Social Security. I would like to ask him specifically what he would do to make sure the Social Security system is sustainable.
