In Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, the campaign signs are gone, but not forgotten.
Elaine Ahearn remembers which businesses supported Donald Trump. “I don’t go there,” she said. “I wouldn’t hire someone to work on my house that supported Donald Trump. I think that’s a backlash that’s gone across the whole country.”
Ahearn and her husband David are longtime Democratic activists and veterans of many political campaigns — including Hillary Clinton’s. In past elections they’ve maintained relationships with people who voted the other ticket. The Trump election was different. Instead of common ground, there’s only a fight to gain political ground.
“I think that this has motivated so many people, so many issues people care deeply about — gun violence, what’s happening to the Dreamers, people who really dislike bigotry and hatred,” said Elaine. “This man has become a sharp stick in the eye to just about everyone.”
She says she’ll read about, but can’t bring herself to watch President Trump deliver the State of the Union. As for reports the president may use the speech to reach beyond his base, for the Ahearns, whatever he says will be too little, too late.
“He doesn’t speak the truth,” said David. “Who needs to have the president being somebody who you can’t trust?”.
The Ahearns say they find hope in their morning papers. They read "The New York Times" and believe the FBI investigation into possible Russia dealings could bring down the president.
But a few miles away in Hampton, New Hampshire, Ben and Laura Soussan are experiencing a different political reality. They say they hope the president will use his State of the Union address to set the record straight.
“I just want him to say what he did,” said Ben, “just, 'this is what I’ve done. A lot of people don’t know this, maybe you don’t know this, maybe you haven’t been watching the right news channel.'”
The Soussans favor the same cable new outlet as President Trump, Fox News. It offers a take on the Trump administration, which the Soussans share. As one of Fox's marquis hosts, Sean Hannity, said during a January 3 broadcast: “So in spite of vicious media attacks and many political obstacles, 2017 was a very successful first year for President Trump. Now, before we get to the full list the media will never show you, let’s take a look the economy.”
“Look at the 401k’s, look at the stock market,” said Ben, who along with his wife, believes Trump deserves credit because he’s cut corporate taxes and regulations.
“This is a good place to do business again,” said Laura.
The Soussans, who run an IT business, backed Trump early on. They say his business background has paid off. They also like his off-the-cuff, unscripted style. Although as president, says Laura, he has said things with which she disagrees.
“I believe it’s kind of like a marriage,” she said. “You can really love this person and know that they’re a good person and not agree with everything they say.”
The Soussans see Trump as a non-politican president, someone still not used to parsing words. They sense more people coming around to their side.
A few miles away in Hampton Falls, Elaine and David Ahearn also sense momentum, toward their side.
“When you look at the consequences of this presidency,” asked Elaine, “how could anyone sit on the sidelines?”
