New Yorkers are voting for Joe Biden while thinking of Bernie Sanders

Many liberal-leaning voters in the Democrat stronghold prefer leftist senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren but will opt for Biden over President Trump

From left, Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Harris, President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden on stage together, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

US President Donald Trump claps alongside US First Lady Melania Trump after speaking during election night in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, early on November 4, 2020. AFP

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden wave to supporters, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. AP Photo

Supporters of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham react at his election night party in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. November 3, 2020. REUTERS

Trump supporters react to Minnesota being called for former Vice President Joe Biden on Fox News during the 2020 presidential election at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S. November 3, 2020. REUTERS

US President Donald Trump visits his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, November 3, 2020. AFP

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden pauses in front of a mural during visit to The Warehouse teen centre in Wilmington, Delaware, November 3, 2020. AP Photo

A broken Make America Great Again hat model lies on the ground as people gather at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington. Reuters

Biden supporters face off a Trump supporter outside of a polling site, on Election Day in Houston, Texas, U.S. November 3, 2020. Reuters

Election officials wait near a long line of hand sanitiser bottles at the Kentucky Exposition Centre on November 3, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. AFP

Adri Perez, with Common Cause 866ourvote, on his way to return to polling place with an emergency ballot from a person hospitalized with Covid-19 at Las Palmas Medical Centre in El Paso, Texas on November 3, 2020. AFP

A two-year-old waits for his mother to cast her ballot at the Granby Town Hall, November 3, 2020. AFP

Cookies representing the presidential candidates for sale at the Oakmont Bakery in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, on November 3, 2020. AFP

US President Donald Trump gestures next to Vice President Mike Pence, as he holds a campaign rally at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids , Michigan, US, early November 3, 2020. Reuters

Voters in Dixville Notch, a village of 12 residents in the US state of New Hampshire, kicked off Election Day at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday by voting unanimously for Democratic nominee Joe Biden. AFP

A supporter gestures before a campaign rally from Donald Trump Jr for US President Donald Trump ahead of the Election Day, in Scottsdale, Arizona, November 2, 2020. Reuters

Joe Biden gestures at a drive-in campaign rally at Lexington Technology Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, November 2, 2020. Reuters

Lady Gaga speaks during a drive-in campaign rally held by former Vice President Joe Biden at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 2, 2020. Reuters

Workers board up a store ahead of election results in the Manhattan borough of New York, November 2, 2020. Reuters

President Donald Trump jokes about the cold as he arrives for a campaign rally at Michigan Sports Stars Park, Sunday, November 1, 2020, in Washington, Michigan. AP Photo

Democratic US vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris responds to supporters as she arrives for a drive-in campaign rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, US, on November 1, 2020. Reuters

New York police officers arrest a protestor on a sidewalk during an orderly protest, which was planned in opposition to a pro-Trump car parade planned on the same day, in New York, New York, USA, 01 November 2020. EPA

A person holds real life action figures depicting democratic US presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden and former US President Barack Obama during a campaign canvas kickoff in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, US, October 31, 2020. Reuters

US President Donald Trump is seen between pumpkins during a campaign rally at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Butler, Pennsylvania , US, October 31, 2020. Reuters

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, his wife Dr. Jill Biden, Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff raise their arms on stage outside the Chase Centre after Biden delivered his acceptance speech on the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center, on August 20, 2020. AFP

Supporters of US President Donald Trump are pictured at Rochester International Airport in Rochester, Minnesota, US, October 30, 2020. Reuters

Seven-year-old supporter Lexi Katzman draws campaign slogans on her father's car as Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks at a Drive-in event in Coconut Creek, Florida, on October 29, 2020. AFP

US President Donald Trump rallies with supporters at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Goodyear, Arizona, on October 28, 2020. Reuters

Jessie Dales entertains supporters as they wait in line to enter the venue where US President Donald Trump will speak on a campaign stop, outside the venue at Goodyear Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 28, 2020. EPA

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio stands in line with other voters to cast his ballot during early voting in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, US, October 27, 2020. Reuters

Democratic US presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden attends a campaign stop in Atlanta, Georgia, US. October 27, 2020. Reuters

Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally while campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. AP Photo

To understand why President Donald Trump will struggle to win his former home state in next week's presidential election, chat to folks at McCarren Park running track in Brooklyn, perhaps the trendiest of New York City's five boroughs.
Here, young urban professionals enjoy group yoga classes, Latinos kick around soccer balls and Black Lives Matter campaigners collect signatures. The nearby Upstate Stock coffee spot is reputed for its tasty vegan croissants.
Mr Trump's black glass towers dot New York City's skyline, but the Republican's nationalist ideas do not resonate here. Polls suggest voters will overwhelmingly choose his Democratic rival Joe Biden in the Presidential election on November 3.
Yet thanks to America's knotty voting arithmetic, this matters little. New York is not among the swing states that will determine the winner, and New Yorkers are worth less in elections than voters in rural states.
"I'm just hoping the big orange fat man goes down in flames," said Matthew Levine, who, in the characteristic style of native New Yorkers, was not shy about discussing the spray-tanned 45th president.
"What can you like about the man? He lies, he puts babies in cages, he's a racist, a misogynist and just about the worst person on the planet. I hope he loses this election. I hope he suffers. I hope he goes bankrupt, and his kids go to jail."

McCarren Park in Brooklyn where young urban professionals participate in group yoga classes, Latinos kick around soccer balls and Black Lives Matter campaigners collect signatures. James Reinl for The National

The National spoke to other folks running, stretching and lifting weights on a mild October afternoon. All were planning to vote for Mr Biden, a former Vice President, once the polls opened for early voting in the state on Saturday.
"I'm worried about what might happen if Trump is elected again," Natalie Rynczak, 30, a teacher and also a native New Yorker, said after completing an afternoon jog. "He's racist, he's divisive, his administration's policies compromise basic human rights."
Four years under a Trump administration have made American life toxic, she added. "It's much harder to talk to people who don't agree with you now. Everything escalates very quickly into an argument."
Mr Levine also lamented America's deepening political polarization, saying he stuck to a "nice little Brooklyn bubble" that is worlds apart from the Bible Belt, South, Midwest and other Trump heartlands.
Such views are not surprising. A Republican presidential candidate has not won in New York since Ronald Reosagan in 1984. Mr Trump, who hails from Queens, did not buck that trend when he lost to Hillary Clinton here in 2016.
Still, Mr Trump, whose name appears on skyscrapers on Wall Street, Fifth Avenue and other prime spots in the city, told The New York Post in August that he is "putting New York in play" in 2020, pointing to his popularity upstate and on Long Island.

Supporters wait for US President Donald Trump to disembark Air Force One at a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after speaking during a campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

A woman attends U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

Florida Governor Ron DeDantis throws hats to the crowd at a rally for US President Donald J. Trump in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

US President Donald J. Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump attends a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

US President Donald J. Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

A young child in costume as US President Donald J. Trump as supporters wait for President Trump to speak during a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November. EPA

Supporters watch as U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks at a campaign event at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS

Supporters at a campaign event for U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS

Senate candidate Jon Ossoff waves before U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) spoke at a campaign event at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS

A supporter of U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden and Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris waves to drivers outside the Democratic headquarters in Union City, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS

A World War II veteran salutes during U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

The President, now a registered Florida resident, says New Yorkers are sick of high taxes, high crime rates, and Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo's strict coronavirus lockdown, which has hurt the economy of a city that was the global epicentre of the virus in March.
"Look at what's happened to New York, it's a ghost town," Mr Trump said at Thursday's televised debate. "These are restaurants that are dying. These are businesses with no money. Putting up plexiglass is unbelievably expensive, and it's not the answer."

Mr Trump can count on some New York fans. Thousands of Staten Islanders bowed their heads and said prayers when the president was sick with Covid-19 earlier this month. Others formed a pro-Trump caravan of some 700 vehicles in Albany, the state capital.
But his chances here are slim. A Siena College poll of likely New York voters gave Mr Biden a massive 32-point lead over the president earlier this month. College pollster Steven Greenberg said it was not "likely that Trump can be competitive in his former home state".

McCarren Park running track in Brooklyn, perhaps the trendiest of New York City’s five boroughs. James Reinl for The National

With such baked-in support for Democrats, few analysts doubt that New York's 29 electoral votes will bolster Mr Biden's election-day tally. Candidates need 270 such votes to secure the White House.
"Even if a vast amount of people sit this one out or vote independent, we will still go [Democratic] blue," added Ms Rynczak. "Lots of friends feel comfortable doing a protest vote in New York, and they probably are safe to do so."
The same holds true for California. The highest-value state is worth 55 electoral votes, it has backed Democratic presidential candidates in every election since 1992 — meaning Mr Biden will likely add those to his score too.

The 2020 election instead hinges on Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and other toss-up states where the candidates have held frequent rallies and poured millions of dollars into television adverts.
In another quirk of US elections, the electoral college affords greater value to voters in rural states like Wyoming and Vermont than it does to populace New York, home to 19.5 million, with 8.4 million in New York City alone.
It is one of the reasons Mr Trump won the 2016 election despite getting 3 million fewer votes than Ms Clinton nationally.
Back at McCarren Park's running track, nobody foresaw Mr Trump pulling off the same feat again next week. They all planned to vote for Mr Biden, despite him being seen as a Wall Street-friendly centrist.
Many city-dwellers prefer leftist senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who lost to Mr Biden in the Democratic primaries. They pivoted to Mr Biden because he had a better chance of capturing the White House.
"It's two bad options," Eugene Karmazin, 44, a software engineer from Brooklyn, said of the candidates.
"We have to choose between an actual oligarch and a guy who spent 50 years serving the oligarchy. Trump is too close to your typical proto-fascist. If I choose between a crook and a fascist, I choose the crook."