CANTON, Ga. — With some prominent exceptions, former President Donald Trump's supporters in Georgia seem to be leaning into his presidential candidacy this year – despite criminal indictments and his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021. However, GOP former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan wrote this week that he would support Democrat Joe Biden instead of Trump.
Trump won 69 percent of the vote in Cherokee County, Georgia, in 2020. Later this year, voters will likely get the opportunity to show if Trump has gained or lost ground in the county.
On Tuesday, California transplant Leda Whitmer showed up to vote early in the May primary in Canton. She said she thinks it's easier to support Trump now than it was in 2016 or 2020. Whitmer believes that the criminal cases Trump faces are solely the work of Trump’s political opponents – and thinks they can actually help Trump win this year’s election.
"I kind of hope the judge throws him in jail. I think it’s going to bump him up," Whitmer said.
GOP voter Michael Blanton agrees Trump's criminal indictments are the work of people trying to prevent him from getting re-elected.
"The trial madness, I think it comes from a political versus a criminal basis," Blanton said after voting early in Canton.
Another voter, Diane Ragus, said she doesn't like Trump's criminal cases.
"But he’s a better alternative than Biden," Ragus added.
Trump’s backers told 11Alive that the shortcomings of Joe Biden’s presidency are even more disqualifying than any legal issues facing Trump.
"Biden is not an option," Ragus said.
Republican Geoff Duncan disagrees. Writing in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the former lieutenant governor said he would vote for Biden this year.
"Unlike Trump, I’ve belonged to the GOP my entire life. This November, I’m voting for a decent person I disagree with on policy over a criminal defendant without a moral compass," Duncan wrote.
"This is the most difficult election I’ve ever faced in my life," said independent Cherokee County voter Mike Schirk, adding he’s siding with Duncan this fall.
"It just seems to be almost an impossible decision. Both options have got major downsides. But yeah, I’d vote for Biden," Schirk said.
Trump also won Cherokee County when he won the presidency in 2016. His winning vote total dropped by about five points in 2020.