Survey of more than 4,000 Pennsylvania voters: COVID played important role for voters

The coronavirus pandemic is the most pressing issue for Pennsylvania voters, according to an Associated Press survey of more than 4,000 Pennsylvania voters. 

AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of more than 127,000 voters and nonvoters — including 4,120 voters and non-voters in Pennsylvania — explored how the electorate felt about candidates and the state of the nation as voters headed to the polls. 

The survey polled an equal mix of Republican and Democrat voters, and focused primarily on suburban and small town/rural voters.

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The majority of those surveyed favor mask-wearing in public and prioritize limiting the spread of the virus over limiting damage to the economy. According to the survey, supporters of Vice President Joe Biden were more likely than supporters of President Donald Trump to advocate mask-wearing, while Trump supporters prioritized the economy over slowing the spread of COVID-19. 

There is a slight leaning that Pennsylvanians surveyed believe the country does not have the coronavirus pandemic at all under control, with Trump supporters more likely to believe it is at least slightly under control. 

Voters surveyed were more likely to disapprove of how Trump has handled the pandemic, but approved how Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, is handling the coronavirus.