I have to admit I am somewhat surprised and pleased at what I see in our quite red area

[NRaleighLiberal]

In January, my wife and I moved to a town that is about 20 miles south of the bluest area in western NC (Asheville). Being an election year, we anticipated that we would be awash in trump signs. With the pandemic (and having a sheriff that will not enforce mask guidelines), we anticipated rampant ignorance on display. We were forewarned that this was quite a red area (though with home prices in Asheville skyrocketing, there seems to be more people like my wife and I appearing around here - much to the chagrin of the long time locals)

Well, here we are in mid September. When we drive around, trump signs are only somewhat sprinkled around - far, far less than we expected. Biden/Harris signs, and Moe Davis signs, are much more prominent and common than we could have expected in our wildest dreams. The Democratic Party has at least three large signs with slogans supporting Democratic platform ideas. The most obnoxious signs seem to be those of Madison Cawthorne, who seems to be somewhat of a fake based on some recent stories (no surprise there - after all, he is a repub trumper)

When we go to stores (me, grocery shopping primarily) or the local farmers market (today, outdoors), mask compliance is at 90% or more. Restaurants and markets and stores seem to be "COVID believers" for the most part, with only the odd one clearly demonstrating the "COVID is a hoax" or "exercize your own rights" types of signs.

Is this at all a harbinger of a light starting to go off in some of the cult members? Have we just not driven down the reddest of roads?

No way of knowing at this point. But my natural tilt toward optimism is encouraged when I see things like this. And my recent move into cynicism takes a bit of a break.

Get Out The Vote - Biden/Harris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dump trump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dalton99a]

1. Or they're pissed off because he's not giving them another $1200

out of his own checking account

[Hekate]

2. Off to The Greatest Page with you

[BComplex]

3. I'm in rural NC, east of the Capitol, and it's fire engine red out here in the country.

But the democrats have been pulling together and registering people who haven't voted for 20 years, and new people coming up, who see what a mess things are.

I'm SO SO hoping we can turn NC blue this election. Our good neighbor to the north, Virginia, has set a good example.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. indeed!

[BComplex]

5. ...

[blm]

6. I posted about this last month here.

Seeing bumper stickers on republican cars in Harris-Teeter parking lot.

Republicans Against Trump. Christians Against Trump. Veterans Against Trump.

Same area as you.

[empedocles]

7. In NoVa neighborhood that had a few dozen signs, trump by 2 or 3 to - 1 in 2016. Now has

only 1 sign - for Biden. No other signs as of today anyway.

[Educated area. Suspect trump is a major embarassment]

[LisaL]

8. I live in a democratic area of OH.

Haven't seen many political signs yet but they are starting to pop up.

[Chainfire]

9. Last week I visited the county East and the County West of me.

Hundreds of Trump signs, not the first Biden sign. I think that the Biden voters are afraid to put up signs. I am not afraid to, but I do not want to invite the nearly certain vandalism that would follow. I am surrounded by very hateful Trumppers.

A Trump sign is a message of "I am ignorant and I am proud of it, and I am in the "club.""

[dalton99a]

10. And it is a PC version of "White Power!"

[Botany]

11. A good sign I have seen

[Traildogbob]

12. Incoming

I live West of Asheville. Red trumpville. The signs and flags for trump are not displayed by local red humpers as much, the most excessive displays are from Florida summer home fools. Million dollar mtn side destruction for play houses are all over my neighbor hood, with ridiculous amounts of new destruction happening since the tax fiasco. Dozers and Lowe’s truck caravans. So, glad you have moved here as a proud Dem, but there are so many coming here to carve out a mountain for a huge home as a getaway a few times a year. And proudly fly trump crap. But, the coves and rural areas are full of poor trumpers, all believe those rich folk are just like them with the same gifts and love from the Trump regime. You can find a dollar store, a gun store and a church anywhere you turn.

[groundloop]

13. I think all the tRump signs from your area got moved to my neighborhood

I'm now in Alabama, a very red area in Alabama at that. unfortunately there's no shortage of tRump signs and flags here.

[Blue_true]

14. In my red part of Florida in 2016, the Trump flags and decals were all over.

It is now September and I see very few of them. By and large, people are not putting his decals or flags on their vehicles.

[cwydro]

15. I'm in a very red county in the piedmont.

Mask compliance is getting better all the time.

I’m not seeing political signs of any stripe.

[GoCubsGo]

16. I have noticed something somewhat similar here, about 160 miles south of where you are.

I have the misfortune of living in Joe "You Lie" Wison's district. I can count on one hand the number of Trump signs/flags I have seen. And, that's counting the one that was permanently removed after the bible stunt. The Biden/Harris signs aren't abundant, either, but more than one would expect for around here. The real interesting thing is that the Jaime Harrison signs far outnumber those for Lindsey Graham. Graham could very well go down in November. He's being forced to run TV ads, too, which he hasn't had to do in the past.

My town just extended its mask requirement for another 60 days, my to my surprise and relief. Compliance is 99.5% at the local retail places, although I think the threat of fines has something to do with that, as well as that law enforcement actually is enforcing the mask. The exceptions being Walgreens and the Dollar Tree, where you'll see at least a couple of selfish assholes wandering the place. I avoid them as much as I can. Unfortunately, there are always a few idiots with their damn noses sticking out of their masks, regardless of where you shop. I just avoid them.

[MyMission]

17. Howdy neighbor! I tend to agree

I see way too many Cawthorne signs, but not as many tRump pence, or pro gop as in prior years.
On the other hand, I have noticed less compliance since the unmasked RNC, from some store owners and employees, not shoppers.

As you're new to the area, I will say I was pleasantly surprised in 2016, 2017, 2018 when we had peaceful protests weekly, then bimonthly, against 45 and his administration and policies. In this red town, on main Street, we got a good turnout each week. Asheville and Buncombe county are more liberal and Democratic than Henderson county. My 80 yr old neighbor was telling me today that she gets the Asheville paper because it is comprehensive, whereas Henderson county papers are skewed towards right wing leanings and rhetoric.

This area has been 60/40 repug for a long time. My gop father came here in the1980's because of the gop presence. Now that the gerrymandering was adjusted, I hope Dems will have a chance to win seats in the state legislature as well as in Congress. Colonel Moe Davis is such a great candidate. I've decided to always use his rank, which he earned through a military career and highlights that fact.

I tend towards optimism too, and do believe that 45's base has been shrinking. Little by little. But he still has a core of supporters, just not enough to get him reelected.

About his core supporters, during labor day weekend I saw too many tRump hats and shirts and masks being worn by visitors to main Street, where I work. Given that I've seen fewer signs, I didn't expect to see that much merchandising being worn by cult 45 members. Many were visiting town, from SC, GA, FL, looking for the Apple festival that wasn't held on main Street this year; they weren't locals.

I'm planning on voting in person early. What's your voting plan?

I recently told a Dem local voter outreach that I'm voting for Moe, Joe, Cal, and Sam!
And replied to a repug text: Vote Biden! Dump tRump!

[blm]

20. We'll have to do a Meet up when the virus subsides.

There’s around a dozen of us here in the area.

[russiamommy]

18. You're in a beautiful part of the state

I’m in Coastal NC (Wilmington). I’ve noticed similar things. We still have our share of Trumpsters, but they don’t seem to be as vocal as they were in 16. Maybe it’s my imagination, or maybe it’s just because we don’t get out that much, but I definitely see a change from four years ago. I see very few Trump signs/flags. I know several people that voted for Trump four years ago, but will vote for Biden this year. I’m hopeful.

I generally only get out once a week to do the weekly shopping, but mask compliance is near 100%. I went to three stores today and only saw one person without a mask - and he was carrying it in his hand and put it on when he got close to someone. Like I said, I’m hopeful.

[russiamommy]

19. Forgot to say...

That I will be voting early in person. I don’t trust the post office and don’t want to deny myself the pleasure of voting in person. We’ve suffered enough. I feel like I deserve that little bit of pleasure. LOL

[mahina]

21. Fun fact I learned- Madison Cawthorne has not yet held a job. At all.

[mahina]

22. Fun fact I learned- Madison Cawthorne has not yet held a job. At all.

Moe Davis is the real deal.