“It’s hard to compete with China. I mean, China doesn’t have the regulations that we have,” said Bucyrus resident Jimmy Benton, who added that wages are lower in China.
AMERICANS’ VIEW OF CHINA AT ALL-TIME LOW
When asked if his vote would be swayed by a political candidate’s stance on China, Mr Benton replied: “Yeah, it (would). Absolutely. Yes.”
He said that the Democrats – currently in control of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the presidency – are not “doing what they need to do”, and added that the Republicans are likely to do a better job.
Candidates from both parties are hoping to woo voters by pledging tough stances on China, amid its rising unpopularity among Americans who see the country as a threat to their national security and job security.
In April, a Pew Research Center survey showed that the number of Americans with an unfavourable view of China had increased to a record high of 82 per cent.
Ohio Democratic Senate hopeful Tim Ryan is one such candidate with a strong rhetoric on China, and discusses the East Asian country at every stop on his campaign trail.