The White House in Washington DC may be some 3,500 miles from Warrington Town Hall, but the race for Presidency this winter will certainly be interesting for local residents, as the controversial Donald Trump aims to cling onto power.
Trump has truly divided opinion on both sides of the pond, with some lauding him as the greatest leader the nation has ever had and others questioning the man’s sanity. An avid Tweeter, the New York native’s messages reach far and wide – including his many followers in the UK.
In this article, we will examine his chances of remaining in power for a second term and take a look at his rivals in the race who are eager to take that seat in the White House away from him. After defying the odds to win the race in 2016, can ‘The Donald’ do it all over again?
Popularity contest
Here in Warrington we know a thing or two about closely contested elections, having seen Labour’s Charlotte Nichols win by less than 2000 votes in Warrington North last year, while Conservative Andy Carter’s margin of victory over Labour was similarly slim in Warrington South.
In both instances, the winning candidates attracted the most votes, but it may surprise you to learn that Trump actually attracted fewer total votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016’s US election.
However, he still won the number of States required to become President. The system stateside is ‘first past the post’ and similar to the one we have here, where it’s Parliamentary seats that count, not the overall numbers.
This could once again play into Trump’s hands, although, much like last time around, the incumbent President is not the favourite to win this year in the latest US election odds. That position belongs to Joe Biden, the recently confirmed Democratic candidate.
Biden was the popular choice to run against Trump as he is capable of attracting support from both sides of the political spectrum. While early front-runner Bernie Sanders is typified for his far-left views and policies, Biden is closer to the centre, which means he is capable of stealing support from the more moderate Trump voters. Meanwhile, religion has also been a key battleground.
Joe Biden’s campaign counters President Trump’s baseless attack that Biden, who is a practicing Roman Catholic, would somehow “hurt God,” saying in response that “Biden’s faith is at the core of who he is” https://t.co/80bsj1G8oG pic.twitter.com/pJfgMR1AL1
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 6, 2020
The outsiders
Though most believe this year’s election will be a two-horse race between Trump and Biden, there remain several other names in the frame. Clinton is still in the picture as a potential candidate for the Democrats in the event that Biden’s campaign is derailed, while Kamala Harris has also gained plenty of support.
But it’s likely that Harris will instead turn her attentions to the future, and she could even be in contention in 2024 if the 77-year-old Joe Biden chosen not to seek re-election for a second term. Harris has however endorsed Biden for this year’s vote and will be his running mate for the months ahead.
On the Republican side, vice-president Mike Pence appears ready to step up to the plate if Trump pulls out of the running, although this is again unlikely to happen. And if you’re interested in the true outsiders, then look no further than Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, rapper Kanye West and wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson – all three are available to bet on in the race for President.
Republicans, some with ties to President Trump, are helping Kanye West get on general election ballots https://t.co/fGYOFsjhjs pic.twitter.com/Z0dr2xvcYY
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 5, 2020
Whatever you think of Trump, his spell as President has generated headlines all over the world, including here in Warrington. And, as he looks to hang on to power for another four years, you can surely expect fireworks – and plenty more fiery Tweets – as we edge closer to polling day.
