I really didn't know what to expect as I pulled closer to the border crossing to enter Point Roberts, Wash.
On assignment to speak with locals about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, I had no idea who would want to talk, let alone admit they're going to vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. When I reached the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer and explained to her why I was coming across, she just smiled and offered up this: "Well, here is how it's going to shake down on election night: if the Republicans win, then 50 per cent of us are moving to Canada and if the Democrats win, then 50 per cent of us are moving to Canada."
She then handed me back my passport and wished me a good day. I knew then I was in for a fun morning of political conversation. Driving around Point Roberts, you would be hard pressed to know that a presidential election is only a few days away. Most of the community is devoid of political signage, but those that are spotted are all for Trump, proudly displayed on front lawns, in living room windows and one taking up the whole front windshield of a parked semi-truck.
After stopping at the real estate office where an interview is politely declined, I pop my head in next door at the water district office.
The two ladies behind the counter laugh a bit when I ask them what they think of the election campaign. Neither offers up their name for a formal interview, but one does call the campaign an embarrassing joke, saying she doesn't want to vote for either candidate and wonders that of all the people that could have been selected to run, were "these two" the best that could be found?
Down the road I arrive at Nielson's Building Center where there is lots of political chatter once I introduce myself.
One man, who again does not want to give his name, calls the campaign a mess.
"I'm voting for the lesser of two evils, which is Donald Trump," he says. "Trump tells it like it is. We need someone to go in there and clean house. I think he really means to do well by the people."
Louise Cassidy, a 33-year Point Roberts resident, is a dual citizen. She is working inside the building center and tells me this will be the first presidential election she will be voting in.
"The only wasted vote is a vote not cast," she says. "When people say a vote for Trump is taking a vote from Clinton and a vote for Clinton is taking a vote from Trump, it's just nonsense. Your vote is your vote. "The campaign is awful. It has sunk this time to the lowest common denominator. You would expect that people running for our highest political office would act a lot more presidential."
Cassidy says she doesn't want to speculate on how the vote will go on Nov. 8, but she does say she expects many people across the country may choose to write a candidate of their choice on the ballot.
"What many Canadians don't know is that in the past someone could write in Goofy, Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, but now I hear many, not around here mind you, but many in other states, that they will write in reject them all or none of the above to make their voices heard," she says. "It could get very interesting."
Being a Friday, it's seniors' day at the Gulf Road Community Center, so lots of folks are coming in the doors to enjoy coffee, lunch, socializing and a game of pool in the back room. I'm greeted with open arms and friendly smiles when I arrive, with many folks eager to share their opinions. Nine-year resident Matt Baldrick describes this election campaign as a real gong show, expressing how dissatisfied he is with what's going on in American politics. "There are other parties - like the Green Party. We need a system where we can see better representatives from the other parties," he says. "The mud slinging has become very popular in American politics and it has gotten to a whole new level. Now with how connected everyone is to cell phones, etc., information is everywhere, but you can't tell what is fact or fiction."
Henry Rosenthal runs the Point Roberts Food Bank. He's inside helping coordinate the lunch before heading off to the International Marketplace to pick up stock for a later food run for clients.
He says life in Point Roberts is very interesting being that 65 to 70 per cent of the homes are Canadian owned and when you factor in the 1,300 to 1,500 permanent residents, with many of them dual citizens, the political talk is polarizing.
"There has been lots of talk in the election. A couple of caucuses were held and there has not been too much support for Trump," Rosenthal says. "The Democratic caucuses were split between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. I personally favoured Sanders, so I'll be voting for Clinton."
Mark Robbins, president of the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association, is an 11-year permanent resident. He arrives a short while after me for a planned interview. He says he leans towards the Democrats after caucusing for Obama in 2008. He caucused for Sanders this time around and will be voting for Clinton. "I don't really feel like I've picked up any sense on which way it will shake down here, but historically Point Roberts usually breaks Democratic when you look at our governors or state representatives, so I would guess it would be the same for the president," Robbins says. "It's horrible, bizarre, it's the strangest presidential campaign in my lifetime. Trump has tapped into something that is real and even valid, and so did Sanders, but they are so different in how they both channeled that desire to somehow break the status quo in unhappiness of the establishment of both parties, but Sanders, in my opinion, was very constructive, positive and forward looking and Trump is just the opposite, in my opinion, so it's a very, very strange year, but we'll see what happens." It's no secret who Democratic precinct chair Virginia Lester is voting for when she walks into the community center carrying her Hillary Clinton sign. She is eager to chat and share her thoughts on the campaign.
Lester has lived in Point Roberts for 15 years, and was an active supporter of Clinton in the 1990s when she worked for the nurses union in California. She has continued to back Clinton and thinks she will be a wonderful president.
She says this election doesn't seem to have generated the same level of anger in Point Roberts as it has in other areas of the country.
"People have a lot of different thoughts and we all get together and have a good time and take care of each other because we are isolated. We are part of the U.S. actually hooked to Canada so it makes it more difficult to be a part of a larger organizational group," Lester says. "My next door neighbour is a very good friend and she is a Trump supporter and I don't understand that, but that's OK, that's her right and it's my right also to believe the way I believe."
Lester agrees the election campaign has been crazy. "What I really worry about is how much chaos and mistrust can be sanctioned and encouraged," she says. "I don't want us to see terrible things after the election. The rhetoric has been very vile and disruptive from both sides and not indicative of the campaigns we should be having." After leaving the community center I head to the Compass Rose Bar and Grill at the Point Roberts Marina to meet with Elizabeth Lantz for lunch. Her husband Joel is president of the Point Roberts Registered Voters Association and Elizabeth is also a board member. They have lived in Point Roberts for 13 years.
Elizabeth, who also tends bar at the Compass Rose, says she has stopped all political discussions at the bar.
"At this point everyone is so polarized one way or the other, no one is going to convince anyone on the other side. The arguments get quite heated, so I've outlawed them at the bar," she says with a laugh. "I can't imagine at this point that there are any undecided voters on a national level.
"The campaign is obviously crazy. Have you seen Saturday Night Live? My personal opinion is I would never vote for Donald Trump, but he's shaking up the political scene and I think that's good. I think turmoil has to happen in order for the energy to shift and this has shaken the core of the political system."
Elizabeth is pretty sure Clinton will take the vote in Point Roberts and nationally to become the next president.
"I'm sure Hillary will win. I really don't think Mr. Trump wants the job," she says. "Can you imagine him going to be responsible and living in the White House and in the isolation of the Secret Service? It's just not going to happen."
