The American Divide
The 2016 election is nearing its end, and the country has already begun to change. Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will begin a new day for America on January 20th. However, America began to change when the candidates entered the race for the White House, and the effects of the election have divided parties and citizens.
“This is by no means, necessarily the ugliest election in American history,” said History professor Patrick Bass. If history is due to repeat itself, then the upcoming election will not change party lines. Bass noted, “the elections had no effects on parties, they were mostly personal attacks. Much like today.”
Hillary Clinton has an average of a seven point lead on Donald Trump in many polls. Her lead has been slim in the past and remains small in battleground states, such as Ohio. In the primary elections, Clinton was engaged in a tight battle with Senator Bernie Sanders.
Sanders ran a more progressive platform than Secretary Clinton and had a sizable support base. As the days toward the Democratic National Convention neared (DNC), Sanders supporters claimed they would not vote for Clinton even if she were the Democratic nominee. The Clinton Campaign and the Sanders Campaign worked together in the days approaching the DNC to create a more progressive platform. This convinced most Sanders supporters to join Clinton, but many still are still unsure if they can vote for her.
“I have views that are both conservative and liberal,” said Morningside Junior Suzanna Gonzalez. Some voters believe the opposite of Bernie Sanders. Most have views on both sides of the political spectrum. This causes problems for the Clinton campaign as they try to be more progressive, but it also poses an issue for the Republican party.
Donald Trump is making waves as the Republican nominee as he quickly dispensed of his fifteen Republican competitors. Trump’s views fall in line with most Republicans who feel the Party is no longer focused on their beliefs. Politico Magazine reported that 70% of Republican voters wish to leave Social Security the way it is, in line with Trump’s views, but opposite with that of the GOP.
Donald Trump’s rhetoric and unpredictability make the majority of citizens worried about his ability to be president. Temperament hinders the Republican nominee while corruption hinders his rivals and his own party. The election millions have decided their candidate. However, many states and voters hang in the balance. Both parties will reach out for the most support possible, but voters, such as Suzanna Gonzalez, “do not care for either candidate when they speak.”