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| Email Issue Only Hardens Political Views in Philadelphia Suburbs | Email Issue Only Hardens Political Views in Philadelphia Suburbs |
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| MEDIA, Pa. — There is potential good news for Hillary Clinton in the politically crucial Philadelphia suburbs: A parade of Republicans said in interviews this week they could not vote for Donald J. Trump. | MEDIA, Pa. — There is potential good news for Hillary Clinton in the politically crucial Philadelphia suburbs: A parade of Republicans said in interviews this week they could not vote for Donald J. Trump. |
| But there was also bad news: If Mrs. Clinton ever had a chance to win these disaffected Republicans, she has come close to forfeiting the opportunity after the F.B.I.’s rebuke of her handling of classified government emails. | But there was also bad news: If Mrs. Clinton ever had a chance to win these disaffected Republicans, she has come close to forfeiting the opportunity after the F.B.I.’s rebuke of her handling of classified government emails. |
| Nearly two dozen Republican professional men and women disavowed Mr. Trump in interviews on the pedestrian-friendly downtown streets of these middle-class towns, whose educated voters are even more crucial to winning Pennsylvania than blue-collar workers in the Rust Belt, who receive more attention politically. In yoga studios, taco bars and coffee shops, Republican after Republican called Mr. Trump ineligible for their vote. | Nearly two dozen Republican professional men and women disavowed Mr. Trump in interviews on the pedestrian-friendly downtown streets of these middle-class towns, whose educated voters are even more crucial to winning Pennsylvania than blue-collar workers in the Rust Belt, who receive more attention politically. In yoga studios, taco bars and coffee shops, Republican after Republican called Mr. Trump ineligible for their vote. |
| “I read an article that global terror threats would increase if Donald Trump becomes president, and that’s scary,” said Jessica Devers, 25, a paralegal from Wallingford, who voted for Mr. Trump in the Pennsylvania primary but does not plan to in the fall. | “I read an article that global terror threats would increase if Donald Trump becomes president, and that’s scary,” said Jessica Devers, 25, a paralegal from Wallingford, who voted for Mr. Trump in the Pennsylvania primary but does not plan to in the fall. |
| While Ms. Devers said she thought Mrs. Clinton was more trustworthy, she was nevertheless appalled by the findings of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, on Tuesday that the former secretary of state was “extremely careless” in her handling of 110 classified emails. “She took a huge security risk for this country,” Ms. Devers said. “Part of me feels like she’s a criminal.” | While Ms. Devers said she thought Mrs. Clinton was more trustworthy, she was nevertheless appalled by the findings of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, on Tuesday that the former secretary of state was “extremely careless” in her handling of 110 classified emails. “She took a huge security risk for this country,” Ms. Devers said. “Part of me feels like she’s a criminal.” |
| College-educated Republicans like Ms. Devers are less often heard from in campaign accounts than the white working-class voters whom Mr. Trump is counting on to propel him to victory here. But Mr. Trump risks any chance of winning the battleground states from Pennsylvania to Iowa by doing poorly with professional Republicans, especially women, in suburbs like these. | College-educated Republicans like Ms. Devers are less often heard from in campaign accounts than the white working-class voters whom Mr. Trump is counting on to propel him to victory here. But Mr. Trump risks any chance of winning the battleground states from Pennsylvania to Iowa by doing poorly with professional Republicans, especially women, in suburbs like these. |
| Once solidly Republican, the fast-growing communities in the collar of counties outside Philadelphia have trended Democratic in presidential elections in recent decades. Most local offices are still Republican-held, and the congressional seats in the region are among the hardest fought in the country. | Once solidly Republican, the fast-growing communities in the collar of counties outside Philadelphia have trended Democratic in presidential elections in recent decades. Most local offices are still Republican-held, and the congressional seats in the region are among the hardest fought in the country. |
| President Obama was able to keep Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes in his column in 2012 by carrying the region, and Mr. Trump will need to do at least respectably well here if he wants to flip the state from blue to red. | President Obama was able to keep Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes in his column in 2012 by carrying the region, and Mr. Trump will need to do at least respectably well here if he wants to flip the state from blue to red. |
| It is an uphill effort. From 1988 to 2012, Democrats expanded their votes in presidential contests by nearly 375,000 over Republicans in six counties surrounding Philadelphia. | It is an uphill effort. From 1988 to 2012, Democrats expanded their votes in presidential contests by nearly 375,000 over Republicans in six counties surrounding Philadelphia. |
| Although undecided voters in these suburbs said their distrust of Mrs. Clinton increased this week over the email issue, their skepticism of Mr. Trump remained high. | Although undecided voters in these suburbs said their distrust of Mrs. Clinton increased this week over the email issue, their skepticism of Mr. Trump remained high. |
| Many Republicans said they would probably abstain in the general election, voting for down-ballot races but ignoring the presidential race or writing in a name. | Many Republicans said they would probably abstain in the general election, voting for down-ballot races but ignoring the presidential race or writing in a name. |
| “He’s a populist without commitment to conservative principles, and an opportunist,” John Reilly, 51, a deputy district attorney for Delaware County who is Republican, said of Mr. Trump. “I’m struggling to see how I can pull the lever for him.” | “He’s a populist without commitment to conservative principles, and an opportunist,” John Reilly, 51, a deputy district attorney for Delaware County who is Republican, said of Mr. Trump. “I’m struggling to see how I can pull the lever for him.” |
| But Mr. Reilly will not vote for Mrs. Clinton — “especially not after yesterday,” he said Wednesday, referring to the F.B.I.’s finding that Mrs. Clinton should not be charged but that she had risked exposing state secrets through her use of private email servers. | But Mr. Reilly will not vote for Mrs. Clinton — “especially not after yesterday,” he said Wednesday, referring to the F.B.I.’s finding that Mrs. Clinton should not be charged but that she had risked exposing state secrets through her use of private email servers. |
| She showed “utter disrespect for the laws that govern the little people,” Mr. Reilly said. “And that in my mind makes her unfit to be president.” | She showed “utter disrespect for the laws that govern the little people,” Mr. Reilly said. “And that in my mind makes her unfit to be president.” |
| Three women, all Republicans, spent their lunch hour on a corner facing the Delaware County courthouse in Media, where a nearby plaque marks a rally by Senator John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republican presidential ticket in 2008, before “a large audience of assembled county citizens.” | Three women, all Republicans, spent their lunch hour on a corner facing the Delaware County courthouse in Media, where a nearby plaque marks a rally by Senator John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republican presidential ticket in 2008, before “a large audience of assembled county citizens.” |
| All three Republican women said they were undecided about the general election. “I don’t know who’s the lesser of the two evils,” said one, Julia Crowell, 48, who works in the pretrial unit of the criminal courts. | |
| Other voters in both parties were so fixed in their views that this week’s F.B.I. findings did little to influence them. | Other voters in both parties were so fixed in their views that this week’s F.B.I. findings did little to influence them. |
| Mrs. Clinton “should be in prison,” said John Dohrmann, 50, a home-improvement contractor from Havertown. “It’s an absolute disgrace. Our F.B.I is a joke to me. Our Justice Department is a joke.” | Mrs. Clinton “should be in prison,” said John Dohrmann, 50, a home-improvement contractor from Havertown. “It’s an absolute disgrace. Our F.B.I is a joke to me. Our Justice Department is a joke.” |
| Holly Brown, 70, a retiree who owned a clothing and gift store in West Chester, supports Mrs. Clinton and said the furor over her use of a private email server was overblown. “I think there’s a lot of sexism going on,” she said. “There’s very much a double standard.” She noted that PolitiFact had “found her to be the most honest politician in the race.” | Holly Brown, 70, a retiree who owned a clothing and gift store in West Chester, supports Mrs. Clinton and said the furor over her use of a private email server was overblown. “I think there’s a lot of sexism going on,” she said. “There’s very much a double standard.” She noted that PolitiFact had “found her to be the most honest politician in the race.” |
| West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, north of Delaware County. Two elected Republican officials strolling outside the government building said they did not support Mr. Trump, but asked not to be named because of pressure they might face from fellow Republicans. | West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, north of Delaware County. Two elected Republican officials strolling outside the government building said they did not support Mr. Trump, but asked not to be named because of pressure they might face from fellow Republicans. |
| Mr. Trump “has proven time and time again he is not the type of person we typically elect to be the highest person in the land,” said one of the officials, who holds countywide office. “I’m not a fan of Secretary Clinton, either.” | Mr. Trump “has proven time and time again he is not the type of person we typically elect to be the highest person in the land,” said one of the officials, who holds countywide office. “I’m not a fan of Secretary Clinton, either.” |
| He said he would probably write in Senator Marco Rubio of Florida for president. | He said he would probably write in Senator Marco Rubio of Florida for president. |
| Another undecided voter, Chris Emich, 47, a quarry stone salesman from Lancaster, voted for Mr. Trump in the primary but was hesitant to support him in November. “I’ve got reservations about him,” he said. But Mrs. Clinton has no chance of winning his vote, he said, especially after the F.B.I.’s findings. “She’s above the law, and I don’t like it at all,” he said. | Another undecided voter, Chris Emich, 47, a quarry stone salesman from Lancaster, voted for Mr. Trump in the primary but was hesitant to support him in November. “I’ve got reservations about him,” he said. But Mrs. Clinton has no chance of winning his vote, he said, especially after the F.B.I.’s findings. “She’s above the law, and I don’t like it at all,” he said. |
| Elaine Andrus, 30, who works in marketing, said she would “probably” vote for Mrs. Clinton, but was dismayed that her email security was not taken more seriously. Her husband served in Iraq and worked in network security for a Defense Department contractor. “Everything has to be encrypted,” she said. “They have really high standards.” | Elaine Andrus, 30, who works in marketing, said she would “probably” vote for Mrs. Clinton, but was dismayed that her email security was not taken more seriously. Her husband served in Iraq and worked in network security for a Defense Department contractor. “Everything has to be encrypted,” she said. “They have really high standards.” |
| Few voters said Mrs. Clinton’s mishandling of classified emails was a make-or-break issue in their decision. The harsh F.B.I. findings seemed to be just the latest news bump in a long-running, frequently disheartening campaign in which voters’ views have largely hardened. | Few voters said Mrs. Clinton’s mishandling of classified emails was a make-or-break issue in their decision. The harsh F.B.I. findings seemed to be just the latest news bump in a long-running, frequently disheartening campaign in which voters’ views have largely hardened. |
| “I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion,” said Julie Albers, 52, of Media, who plans to vote for Mrs. Clinton. | “I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion,” said Julie Albers, 52, of Media, who plans to vote for Mrs. Clinton. |
| Rich Gates, 44, an investment adviser in West Chester, said he was a Democrat before registering as a Republican to vote against Mr. Trump in the Pennsylvania primary, but now supports the libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson. | Rich Gates, 44, an investment adviser in West Chester, said he was a Democrat before registering as a Republican to vote against Mr. Trump in the Pennsylvania primary, but now supports the libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson. |
| “I think there’s a 90 percent chance I’m going to vote for Gary Johnson and a 10 percent chance for Hillary,” he said. | “I think there’s a 90 percent chance I’m going to vote for Gary Johnson and a 10 percent chance for Hillary,” he said. |
| He never expected Mrs. Clinton to be indicted. “She’s a politician,” he said. “She’s been through many political wars. I think she’s too savvy to get into that kind of trouble.” | He never expected Mrs. Clinton to be indicted. “She’s a politician,” he said. “She’s been through many political wars. I think she’s too savvy to get into that kind of trouble.” |