Only days remain before we find out which one of the most unpopular candidates in history becomes President. It could have all been so different though.
Bernie Sanders, a virtually unknown specimen, put together a successful campaign in the primary elections. It ended up running Hillary Clinton right to the wire in the Democrat contest.
Most people in Clinton’s shoes would look at how they nearly lost to a self-proclaimed ‘socialist’. It feels as if she has ignored Bernie’s idea and could end up paying the price for not adapting.
Why Sanders is the better candidate
Many waved him off as a ‘loony of the left’ but what the Vermont Senator brought to the Democratic campaign was something else. Clinton couldn’t replicate the turnout that he got at his rallies. Nor could she demonstrate the ability to get disenfranchised voters engaged in the process. Hillary hasn’t even got close to creating the same sense of positivity and excitement with younger voters as Sanders did.
There isn’t many 75-year-old’s that could have pulled this off.
Trust
Clinton is currently being held back by the FBI email revelations, something Bernie never would have had against him. Many in her own party, let alone the public, don’t trust Hillary. Unfortunately for her she is the establishment candidate. As we saw in the in UK’s EU referendum this year the anti-establishment vote effectively won it for the leave campaign. Who’s to say that it wont play a part in the US election.
There are claims that up to 34% of people are less likely to vote for Clinton after the email revelations (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Many believe that the ‘anti-Clinton establishment’ vote could be her pit fall. It might seem hard to understand on this side of the pond but many people over in the US trust Donald Trump more than Clinton. Whereas Sanders is seen as kind, genuine and trustworthy.
Engagement
Clinton continues to struggle to engage with voters of all ages and performs poorly in this area. Earlier this year even Obama poked fun at her by saying:
“Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a bit like your relative who just signed up for Facebook”.
Trump’s Twitter presence and his controversial policy ideas have been one way he has been able to have the upper hand on Clinton. Bernie was able to inspire the younger generation. His supporters would have won the social media battle.
Positivity
Obama showed in 2008 that a positive, optimistic campaign can deliver you the presidency.
Senator Sanders would have been the positive candidate. This would have been a stark contrast to the negative, scare mongering tactics used by Trump. Clinton hasn’t seemed to want to set her own agenda but yet attempt to continue the status quo of the Obama regime.
Outgoing President Obama set out a clear vision in 2008 (Image credit: Flickr)
This might be one of the first elections where party politics goes out the window. I’ve seen interviews with young Sanders supporters who say they will vote for Trump instead of Clinton. That is quite something considering the opposing beliefs between the two.
Clinton’s chances
Hillary Clinton will be thankful of the Democrats questionable voting system where ‘super delegates’ effectively prevent left wing candidates like Bernie from becoming the nominee. Sanders to his credit endorsed Clinton in July and said:
“Hillary Clinton and I agree that it is absolutely imperative that Donald Trump doesn’t make it to the Oval Office”.
One thing that has become blindingly obvious to me during the campaign is that many voters believe that personality is everything. Clinton has no charisma, she can’t engage with vast sums of the public, she can’t be trusted and she hasn’t put a positive case forward. For those reasons I think she might lose.
As for Bernie all I can say is that #FeelTheBern2020 has already started trending.
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