Patrick Murray, a Monmouth University pollster who investigated several presidential battlefield states this year, said the loss of the football season could play a role in driving Republican voters this fall. He mentioned in particular the slew of voters who had not yet objected, and who became increasingly reluctant to accept all the disturbances caused by the absence of the coronavirus.
“It’s just one of those markers that reminds people how much is disturbed in their lives,” said Mr. Murray.
Representative Anthony Gonzalez, an Ohio Republican who was a first-round NFL draft pick after playing wide receiver at Ohio State, said college footballers are likely to be safer from the coronavirus under the watch of their coaches than they are at would be their home from campuses.
He predicted Ohio State fans in his northern Ohio district to blame the university administrators and not Mr. Trump for the loss of the season. By calling for the season to end, Mr. Trump is channeling not only his political base, but a large majority of voters, Mr. Gonzalez said.
“I can say, in my district, I think overwhelmingly people would support the statements he made, and even people who are not supporters of him,” Mr Gonzalez said. ‘If we looked at it, I think probably 75 to 80 percent of people would agree that they should play. I feel pretty strong about that. ‘
However, Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who holds two master’s degrees from Ohio State, disagreed, saying Mr. Trump could not explain to voters why he is not responsible.
“Everything that happens in this pandemic is on his watch,” said Mr. Brown Tuesday. ‘Unemployment is on its watch, the canceled seasons are on its watch. I mean, this is all on Trump’s watch, and he’s so banged up and he could point fingers and blame some elite somewhere, but it’s on him. ‘
