'Humans Of New York' Delves Into Macomb County After Trump Election
MACOMB COUNTY (CBS Detroit) The home of the Reagan Democrats made their voice heard in last week's presidential election, picking Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton.
The turn of this particular Rust Belt region from its Democrat tradition toward a Republican for the first time in 30 years drew attention from media across the country. It was so notable the New York Times sent reporters to Macomb's traditionally blue collar communities, where 80 percent of residents are white and the median income is $28, 332, to get first-person accounts of what swayed voters toward the billionaire Manhattan real estate developer and away from Clinton.
The vote was 48 percent for Trump and 47 percent for Clinton, a margin of 48,351 votes. He won 19 out of 24 Macomb County communities.
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts told the NY Times that Trump's criticism of trade agreement NAFTA resonated here. One voter explained it this way: "Mr. Trump understood our problems right off the bat, without being told by anyone."
The change in what was for many years a Democrat stronghold has left many a pollster puzzled, especially in the "coastal elite" environs of New York and California.
Enter Humans of New York.
The photo series that documents everyday Americans from all walks of life in the big city melting pot has turned its lens on Macomb County. A Facebook page was created that promises to highlight the reality of the region and "hopefully it will introduce you to a few of the people who live there." The project is billed as non-partisan.
The first post has more than 3,400 comments.
What do you think, will this help the rest of the world understand Macomb County's point of view on the election?
