Fast forward to November 8, 2016. Months of continuous campaigning and fundraising all comes down to this day.
With the 2016 Presidential election quickly approaching, front-runners in the Democratic and Republican parties are beginning to emerge.
In the democratic party, Hillary Clinton continues to lead the pack. Clinton is a former Senator, Secretary of State under President Obama and former First Lady of the United States.
Vice President to President Obama, Joe Biden, has also publicly announced his interest in running for the 2016 democratic seat. Biden is a former Senator from Delaware.
The Republican Party is seeing a much larger playing field for potential 2016 nominees. Among them is Dr. Ben Carson, a former neurosurgeon who is known for speaking out against President Obama’s healthcare law.
Jeb Bush, a republican frontrunner is the brother of former President George W. Bush and son of President George H.W. Bush. His potential candidacy has caused worry among some republicans who say having another Bush in office will not benefit America.
Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker is also hoping to win the nomination for the republican party. Walker is best known for being the first American in history to win a recall election as governor.
The West Chester University College Republicans recently took a trip to CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) in Washington, D.C. where they heard from several republican frontrunners for 2016.
Among them are Donald Trump, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Dr. Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Sarah Palin, to name a few.
According to the group of students who attended the conference this year, it is a great way to learn more about candidates and their stance on key issues.
Many prospective candidates have been appearing more frequently on talk shows in hopes of getting their name and policies recognized.
But what really draws people to and against a certain candidate?
West Chester political science major Mary Walbridge says, “I have some favorites in the Republican party that I’d like to see run but I’m not sure they’d be able to reach enough people to win. I like Jeb Bush as a possible contender, he’s liked on both sides for his moderate views. There is still a lot of time left for candidates to rise.”
Matt Goetter prefers Hillary Clinton because “she would be the first woman president!”
Will the recent scandal surrounding Hillary Clinton affect her 2016 White House hopes? While Secretary of State under President Obama, Clinton was said to be using a private email address to conduct State Department business.
According to a recent CNN poll, “Hillary Clinton’s 2016 chances are largely unaffected.” Data also received from this study said, “Clinton still trounces her potential Democratic opponents by incredible margins, and soundly defeats all GOP contenders by double digits.”
From scandals to triumphs and with newly emerging rising stars in both parties, the playing field for the 2016 Presidential Election is sure to be ever-changing. With several debates leading up to the 2016 election date, there will be plenty of time to get to know potential candidates.
Elizabeth Angstadt is a fourth-year student majoring in political science. She can be reached at EA756657@wcupa.edu.