In this paper analysis of the candidates of the 2016 presidential elections in the United States will be performed. Firstly, an outline the political system in the United States and how the presidential elections take place will be created. Then their respective biographies, opinions and goals on 2016’s key issues, campaigns and popularity will be taken into account, followed by a comparison of the two candidates based on the previous findings, and a conclusion.
On November 8th, 2016, the 45th President of the United States of America was elected. The Republicans nominated billionaire and business man Donald Trump while the Democrats were counting on Hillary Clinton as the first female presidential candidate in the history of the United States. Clinton and Trump have both been public figures for decades – Clinton as a livelong politician and Trump as an unconventional billionaire. The contrast between the two candidates could not have been bigger.
According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll from May 2016, the presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was a competition between two candidates viewed unfavorably by a majority of the electorate. The voters’ motivation was mostly to vote against the candidate they dislike rather than voting in favor of the person they wanted to lead them (Balz, Clement 2016).
As the leader of a country that has the ability to shape the world, the American president can be named the most powerful person on the planet. Therefore, the presidential elections do not only affect the United States itself but also a fair amount, if not every other country in the world.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
The political system in the United States
The role of the president in the United States
Political parties and presidential elections in the United States
HILLARY CLINTON: THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
Biography
Political goals during the campaign
Economy
Healthcare
National security
Immigration
Environment
Gun control
Foreign policy
Issues addressed only by Clinton
The campaign
Popularity
In the Democratic Party
In the United States
Worldwide
DONALD TRUMP: THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
Biography
Political goals during the campaign
Economy
Healthcare
National security
Immigration
Environment
Gun control
Foreign policy
Issues addressed only by Trump
The campaign
Popularity
In the Republican Party
In the United States
Worldwide
COMPARISON
Biography
Political goals during the campaign
Economy
Healthcare
National security
Immigration
The environment
Gun control
Foreign policy
Issues addressed by only one of the candidates
The campaign
Popularity
In their respective party
In the United States
Worldwide
CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the candidates in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, by comparing their backgrounds, political platforms, campaign strategies, and public reception.
- The structure of the American political system and presidential elections.
- Biographical development and career paths of both candidates.
- Individual political agendas on core issues like economy, healthcare, and foreign policy.
- Campaign challenges, scandals, and public opinion dynamics.
- A direct comparative summary of the candidates' contrasting styles and goals.
Excerpt from the Book
Biography
Hillary Diane Rodham was born on October 26, 1947 in Chicago as the oldest of three children. Her parents, Hugh Rodham and Dorothy Rodham, had worked their way from the working class to the middle class (Hahn 2016, p. 9 f.). Always encouraged by her mother, Hillary believed that anything was possible for her to accomplish. She started being interested in politics at a young age and attempted to become student representative in her high school (Hahn 2016, p. 18 f.). As a 13-year-old she wrote a letter to NASA and asked where she could apply to become an astronaut. However, NASA answered that they did not want girls. Clinton later named this a key event in her life (Hahn, p. 20). The Rodhams were proud members of the Republican party (Hahn 2016, p. 12). As a 16-year-old Clinton campaigned for the Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. During Clinton’s college years there were racial conflicts in many American cities and the Vietnam war escalated. Nineteen sixty eight (1968) was the United States’ deadliest year in Vietnam with 45 American soldiers losing their lives every day. By the time she graduated from an elite college, Wellesley, in 1969 she had become a Democrat. This was not unusual in the 1960s as a whole generation was turning away from the government and current politics. (Hahn, 2016, p. 27). Unlike the Republicans, Clinton did not like racial segregation and the Vietnam war. Instead, she counted on change through compromises, rather than revolution (Hahn 2016, p. 34). In Wellesley, she joined the Republican club and soon became their leader in her second year. In her third year, she was elected representative of the whole student body (Hahn 2016, S. 31). In the fall of 1969 she started to study law in Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, aiming for a political career.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the 2016 election landscape and the significance of the U.S. presidency within the global context.
HILLARY CLINTON: THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: Details Clinton's background, her specific policy goals across multiple sectors, and the challenges faced during her primary and general campaigns.
DONALD TRUMP: THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE: Examines Trump's business background, his unique campaign platform, and the various controversies that defined his run for the presidency.
COMPARISON: Offers a systematic side-by-side evaluation of both candidates regarding their personal history, political objectives, and campaign trajectory.
CONCLUSION: Summarizes the election results and explains how swing states and voter sentiment contributed to Donald Trump's victory.
Keywords
Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, 2016 Presidential Election, United States, Political System, Campaign Strategy, Voter Motivation, Economy, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Healthcare, Scandal, Electoral College, Swing States, Political Biographies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work provides an objective, analytical comparison of the 2016 U.S. presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, focusing on their paths to the nomination and their ideological differences.
What central themes are explored in this analysis?
Key themes include the structural workings of the U.S. government, the development of political dynasties, the impact of media on campaigning, and the specific policy positions of the two candidates.
What is the primary research goal of the document?
The goal is to analyze the biographies, goals, and campaign performance of both candidates to understand why the election unfolded the way it did and to clarify the stark contrasts between the two.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The author employs a comparative, descriptive research approach, utilizing existing political literature, poll data, and news reports to synthesize the political landscape of the 2016 election.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers individual chapters on Clinton and Trump, detailing their early lives, education, career, specific campaign goals on issues like immigration and the economy, and the controversies that occurred during the election.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Major keywords include 2016 Presidential Election, United States, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Political System, Campaign Strategy, and Political Comparison.
How does the author categorize the differences between the candidates?
The author distinguishes them primarily through their origins—Clinton as a career politician versus Trump as a business mogul—and their opposing approaches to established political and social norms.
What role did media play in the 2016 campaign according to the author?
The author emphasizes that media was central to the election, serving as both a platform for the candidates to reach voters directly and a source of scandal and negative campaigning that influenced public perception.
- Citation du texte
- Stefanie Nagel (Auteur), 2017, Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton. A comparison in the run for presidency in the United States in 2016, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/415872
