Election 2020: To Door Knock, or Not To Knock? Poll Says ‘No’

I’ve said from the beginning that I am not interested in anyone coming to our door knocking for a candidate in 2020. This is not the year for that.

There’s been a difference of opinion, however, between the parties. While Democrats have followed a no-knock policy for the protection of voters, Republicans have been hitting the doors and using it as a trump card (no pun intended) against their GOP opposition.

But are they doing the right (again, no pun intended) thing?

Politico looked at this issue in Voters to Trump and Biden camps: Don’t come knocking on our doors. It discovered the “no knock” philosophy was backed up by their Politico/Morning Consult poll that discovered “more voters feel uncomfortable with campaign canvassers coming to their door because of Covid.”

A full 63 percent of voters don’t want canvassers at their door. Only 28 percent are okay with it.

Politico reported:

Donald Trump and Republicans have been far more aggressive than their Democratic counterparts about resuming ground efforts, with Joe Biden’s campaign serving as the highest-profile holdout. The national survey, among the first public polls to track the question, lends legitimacy to Biden’s decision to replace traditional door knockers with calls, texts and other digital tools designed to reach voters.

…

Democratic officials were not surprised by the uptick in squeamishness.

“The pandemic is still raging. We haven’t done a great job of controlling it and there is no reason to think that we will over the next month-and-a-half,” said Kunoor Ojha, who worked as the states organizing director for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign. “People who run campaigns have an obligation to act responsibly.” Door-knocking is “not the only tactic out there.”

…

Trump and Republicans reintroduced in-person campaign activities in mid-June, including knocking on doors and registering voters in states that allowed it. Party leaders stress that door-knocking is outdoors and can be done safely. Volunteers wear masks and socially distance when they have conversations with voters, and if a voter indicates they don’t want to talk, their volunteers move on, Republicans told POLITICO.

Seriously, don’t come to my door. Don’t leave literature. Just … don’t.

The Politico/Morning Consult poll was conducted Sept. 18 to Sept. 20, surveying 1,989 registered voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.