Geoff Duncan: This election is in the hands of the 'whisper caucus'

[japple]

https://www.ajc.com/opinion/geoff-duncan-this-election-is-in-the-hands-of-the-whisper-caucus/ZIKGH456UJEF5MQ67TYMGNSXBA/#

Having spent the past four years vehemently urging my fellow Republicans to move on from the divisive Trump era, I can quickly identify who the preferred team is for a particular community. My just-completed sixth trip to Pennsylvania for the Harris campaign proved to be no different. If you land on the Phillies or Pirates sides of the commonwealth, you’ll be awash in pro-Harris energy and enthusiasm, but that quickly dissipates into Trump country as the terrain becomes more rural.

These are voters who might not know whether Trump meets the definition of a “fascist” but can tell something is unpatriotically off with him. They also can’t understand how a former (and potential future) commander in chief could denigrate fallen service member as “suckers” and “losers.”

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Since I started speaking out about Trump, random members of the whisper caucus have been approaching me at my kids’ games, at restaurants and on the streets with quiet words of encouragement and support.

After making sure no one is within ear shot, they tell me, “thanks for everything you’re doing” and “I’m going to do the same thing you’re doing in November.”