Enfield's five best things? No Kings protest makes the list

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  Someone was telling me yesterday about a group effort to list the five best things about Enfield. The first was Costco. Everyone struggled after that. Then there was a suggestion to add Raising Cane's. ​ Enfield doesn't have a movie theater, much in the way of parks, a mall, or a downtown. Our main library hasn't been renovated in decades and has more videos than Blockbuster. Too many of our restaurants are fast food. The fastest-growing occupation in town may be takeout delivery drivers. You need your car for everything. But the town does have a civic spirit. ​ Saturday's No King’s protest was my third one. Similar to the others, it attracted a good number of people. Perhaps not as many as the first one, but a lively turnout. ​ It was a chance to strike up random conversations and meet new people, something that is hard to do in Enfield. One fellow I met turned out to be an EHS grad from my era. I graduated in 1972, and my newfound friend in 1973. He had a rally-free...

Will Enfield vote for Trump again?




Trump in Enfield Connecticut
Signs on Hazard Ave. near the Eastern intersection of Middle Road. The "Love will always win" sign speaks to the Enfield's socially liberal values, which may way heavily against Trump this time around. 


Voting lines are long, with an hour-long wait at polling places, say social media reports. Connecticut will vote for Joe Biden in this race, as it did for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But Trump won Enfield in 2016, 9,238 to 8,548.

Will Trump repeat his 2016 Enfield victory? It's possible. There is one big local issue in play: Defense spending.

Connecticut ranks 7th in the nation on defense spending. Trump increased defense spending, as promised, and Connecticut has benefited from the increases. Residents here are aware that many jobs are defense-related.

But if Trump loses in Enfield, it might be around social and character issues.

The town carries the New England traditions of live and let live tolerance, for all its conservative leanings.

Enfield is generally socially liberal but fiscally conservative. This election will test the power of Enfield's social liberals. 

People feel they pay too much in local and state taxes, which helps local and state Republicans. 

Republicans here tend to skew liberal on social issues, which keeps some of the Democrats in their camp. One thing to note: The town is heavily Catholic and Trump's abortion stance may be appealing to some. 

Connecticut responded aggressively to the pandemic and had one of the best records in the nation. With the virus infection rates surging, people here may blame Trump. This could be a factor in today's vote. 

The election turnout in Enfield may be heading to a record level. Does this foretell a Trump or Biden victory in Enfield? That's too hard of a call to make.



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