US voters in UAE despair over Biden performance and tip Trump to win election

US residents of the UAE who support Joe Biden for president say they expect Donald Trump to win Tuesday’s election.

The National  canvassed a group of American voters in the UAE on their views in August and again this week.

Most were Biden supporters who expressed optimism three months ago, even as the coronavirus pandemic swept the US.

Now each said they expected Mr Trump to triumph over the Democratic challenger as they reflected on a poor campaign and feared for an uncertain future.

They gave their verdict in a snap social media poll for The National  found respondents tipped Mr Trump to have another four years in the Oval Office.

In a single-question poll of 2,750 readers in the UAE and abroad, 53 per cent wanted Mr Trump to win and 47 per cent wanted a Biden administration.

“I am mentally preparing myself for four more years of Trump,” said Cary Smith, an English teacher from Denver, Colorado, who works in Dubai.

“It feels like I am watching democracy die.”

Fears of a possible US lockdown under a new government, Mr Biden’s perceived weak performance on the campaign trail and the appointment of ardent conservative Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court were factors behind the belief that Trump’s re-election was likely.

Ms Barrett’s appointment on the eve of the election meant the nation’s highest court has six conservative-leaning judges and three with liberal voting histories.

“Amy Coney Barrett being selected so soon to an election shows the Republicans are more interested in winning than playing fair,” said Ms Smith, 43.

“The election could be decided by the Supreme Court if a clear winner isn’t declared. There was a precedent set for this to happen in 2000.”

That year, the Supreme Court declared the election in favour of George W Bush over Al Gore after a recount dispute in the state of Florida.

Ms Smith was also critical of Mr Trump’s administration politicising the pandemic.

“In the US now if you wear a mask you are seen as a liberal,” she said.

“But if you don’t wear a mask you’re seen to be sticking up for your individual rights.

“People in the US who are protesting against having to wear a mask to protect themselves must look like idiots to the rest of the world.”

Ebraheem Al Samadi, an Arab-American businessman based in Dubai, said it was time for a change in the White House but he did not think it would happen.

“I watched the debates to see how strong Biden was,” said Mr Al Samadi, 32, who runs a retail group. "Even though I am not a Trump fan, I felt he was much more stronger than Biden.

“He looked much more confident, which is what people look for in a president. I believe deep down Trump will win. You just feel it.

“Biden looked tired and like he had given up.”

He was critical of the way Mr Trump’s administration had handled the Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in more than 236,000 deaths in the US.

“It’s been a catastrophe. Trump didn’t even wear a mask to the debates, which shows he’s not taken it seriously,” Mr Al Samadi said.

“He has shown he is more driven by money than the safety of citizens.

“That said, he came across as strong and outspoken, which people will respond to even if they don’t believe what he’s saying.”

He said uncertainty of what measures a new government would introduce could result in many voters sticking with the devil they knew.

“People don’t want the trial-and-error of a new president trying to adapt,” Mr Al Samadi said.

“I’ve spoken to friends and family in the US who all agree it’s better to stick with Trump rather than vote for the uncertainty of a new regime.

“I think if there wasn’t a pandemic then Biden would surely win.”

Fears over lockdown

Christine Lippincott said there was a worry among voters that Mr Biden would implement tougher action to handle the pandemic, which could lead to a lockdown.

“Covid-19 is an issue that many people are still focused on,” said the catering trainer, 34, who has lived in the UAE for 10 years.

"I have been speaking to a lot of people back home and they believe Biden is going to be stricter with restrictions.

“We just saw England go into lockdown again. People are wondering what will happen under Biden and what it will do to the economy.”

While Mr Trump continued to trail Mr Biden in the polls, Ms Lippincott said his victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 meant nothing could be taken for granted.

“The polls are not something you can bank on,” she said.

“Everybody was saying the same in 2016: that Trump was going to lose.”

She also said the US was so divided that it could take some time for a clear winner from Tuesday’s election to emerge.

“There are so many key swing states that it’s likely to be an election week rather than election night,” Ms Lippincott said.

“If Biden doesn’t win by at least nine or 10 points there will be a lot of shouting from Trump and on the other side there will be a lot of complaining about rights being suppressed if the opposite happens.

“I am just ready for it to be over, to be honest.”