Mark Goldhaber (67), a Republican from Raleigh, NC, is active in the Jewish Federation and AIPAC. He previously worked for a Republican member of Congress and the National Republican Congressional Committee, and he was a Reagan appointee to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. His wife is a Democrat and he’s a Republican, which they’ve “dealt with happily for 35 years.”
We are providing the unfiltered opinions of voters interviewed for this project. Those views are based on their understanding and perception of facts and information from a range of sources. In some cases, that information may be misleading or incorrect.
What do you think about the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic?
Overall, I think the federal response has been reasonably strong. Clearly the testing delivered by the FDA and CDC initially were inadequate and the administration was slow off the mark. After engaging the private sector, it appears that the federal government has been much more responsive after those initial days.
What do you think about the response in your state/community?
The local response is adequate. Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina seems to be following everybody else but that is okay.
Has the threat from the virus been overblown?
When you look at the economic dislocation it’s hard to look at the response as overblown. Dr. Anthony Fauci, [a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force] indicated early on that we had to be overly aggressive to try and flatten the curve. I trust him and his advice.
Do you think the threat from the virus has been taken seriously enough?
I think the administration and governors have taken it very seriously. Hopefully the younger cohort of our population will do its part.
What measures have you taken in your own life to protect yourself and others from the virus?
Clearly as every day goes by, my wife and I are becoming more hermit-like.
If you are a Trump supporter or leaning toward voting for Trump, has his administration’s response to the pandemic affected your support for the president?
It has made me feel better about the President and his team then I was before the crisis.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
This pandemic and the administration’s effectiveness in responding will determine the election outcome. If the administration is seen as responding aggressively and going big enough to flatten the curve but to also look generous to the average American with the checks that are sent out, it will have a significant impact on independent voters which will decide the election.