ELECTIONS - Donald Trump and Joe Biden 2020 Weaknesses and Strengths Flashcards
DONALD TRUMP
Political experience
Strengths
Donald Trump has been a presidential candidate three times - 2000, 2016, and 2020.
He first registered as a Republican in 1987, before joining the Reform Party and the Democrats (2001). He returned to the Republican Party in 2009.
In 1987, he placed full-page adverts in three large newspapers, advocating for ‘America… to stop paying to defend countries that can afford to defend themselves’.
In a poll (Gallup) December 1988, he was the 10th most admired man in America.
Trump’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2012 is credited for kick-starting his political career in the Republican Party.
DONALD TRUMP
Political experience
Weaknesses
2012 - Trump’s presidential ambitions were not taken seriously. His new reality show The Apprentice was taking off, so people assumed this was a publicity stunt.
He was the first president who has no political or military experience prior to taking office.
The previous US presidents (1789-2016) came into the White House with an average of 13 years in public office, and 6 years of military service.
DONALD TRUMP
Party endorsement
Strengths
45 current senators endorsed Trump’s 2020 campaign - Ted Cruz being one of them (Texas)
162 members of the House of Representatives endorsed Trump’s 2020 campaign.
DONALD TRUMP
Party endorsement
Weaknesses
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DONALD TRUMP
Personal characteristics
Strengths
Trumpism - is the economic protectionism of his ‘America First’ policy outlined in 2016.
Simplistic public speaking skills - 2020 September Wisconsin Rally:
‘Biden wants us to surrender our country to the violent leftwing mob’…‘If Biden wins, very simple, China wins. If Biden wins, the mob wins… we’re not into flag-burners’
DONALD TRUMP
Personal characteristics
Weaknesses
Trump is racist, sexist, and cannot keep his mouth shut when needed - he repeatedly called the SARS Coronavirus, the ‘Chinese virus’.
He also suggested that Kamala Harris VP, ‘doesn’t meet the requirements’ to be Biden’s running mate.
Following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, he stated that ‘when the looting starts, the shooting starts’, following Minneapolis protests.
‘Proud boys: stand back and stand by’ - this happened during the first 2020 Presidential debate in Cleveland, when he was asked whether he condemned white supremacy.
DONALD TRUMP
Effective organisation
Strengths
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DONALD TRUMP
Effective organisation
Weaknesses
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DONALD TRUMP
Raising large sums of money
Strengths
In the 2020 election, Trump raised $1.96 billion (with the Republican National Committee)
$1.91 billion spent
Total individual contributions - $142,800
Pro-Trump MAGA Committee raised $199,314,000
Trump was the only billionaire president in USA History - most of his fortune arises from his NYC real estate.
‘My father gave me a small loan of $1 million dollars’ - Trump, 2015
DONALD TRUMP
Raising large sums of money
Weaknesses
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DONALD TRUMP
Oratical and telegenic skills
Strengths
America First campaign - 2020 Aug
‘The establishment protected itself… their victories have not been your victories’
2020 October rallies - Trump danced to YMCA which gained significant social media attention
North Carolina MAGA rally - ‘Obama and Biden went out, and got 14 people.. they didn’t have too good a crowd… we have 5 of these today… 5’
DONALD TRUMP
Oratical and telegenic skills
Weaknesses
His rallies + Oratical skills left him in a hot mess following the Capitol riots, which happened on Jan 6th, where thousands of Trump supporters gathered a Save America rally, to challenge the result of the Nov presidential election.
In a 70-min address, Trump encouraged them to march to Congress where politicians certified Biden’s win. He said at the rally, ‘If you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country anymore’
DONALD TRUMP
Relevant policies
Strengths
- Pledged to create 10 million jobs in 10 months, in addition to creating one million new small businesses. Also wants to deliver an income tax cut.
- Doesn’t believe systemic racism exists in the USA Police forces.
- Was endorsed by the NRA in 2016 (as an only alternative to Clinton)… he did propose tightening checks on gun buyers following mass shootings in 2019.
DONALD TRUMP
Relevant policies
Weaknesses
- Climate Change sceptic - wants to expand non-renewable energy. He wanted to roll back further environmental protections. He was committed to withdrawing the Paris Climate Accord, which formally happened the day after the presidential election.
- Wanted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, passed under Obama, which increased the government’s regulation of the private health insurance system, which also made it illegal to deny coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
JOE BIDEN
Political experience
Strengths
Biden became Senator for Delaware in 1973 (to 2009)
2008 Presidential bid - he declared his candidacy in the 2008 elections. He focused on the Iraq war, and his foreign-policy experience, particularly in comparison with Obama’s (mid-2007). Though he had difficulty raising funds etc, his campaign raised his political status. Obama began to appreciate Biden’s appeal to the W.C voters and after withdrawing from the race, in August 2008, Obama announced that Biden would be his ‘running mate’ or V.P
JOE BIDEN
Political experiences
Weaknesses
He declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in 1987. - he was scrutinised for plagiarism continually. He had supposedly used passages of Neil Kinnock’s speech in Sep 1987. Both speeches shared similarities about being the first person in the family to attend college etc.
JOE BIDEN
Party endorsement
Strengths
Two democratic former presidents, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and former Sec of State Colin Powell (Republican) endorsed Biden.
48 current senators endorsed him in the 2020 Campaign
186 current representatives endorsed him in the 2020 Campaign
JOE BIDEN
Party endorsement
Weaknesses
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JOE BIDEN
Personal characteristics
Strengths
He can connect with people and see their humanity… he’s a good empathiser.
Democratic Convention 2nd night 2020 August -
Security Guard Jacquelyn Asbie met Biden on his way to seek an endorsement from the NYT Editorial board. She introduced Biden at the convention - ‘in the short time I spent with Joe Biden, I could tell he really saw me - they he actually cared’
JOE BIDEN
Personal characteristics
Weaknesses
Can be a little too feisty -
Michigan construction worker exchange March 2020 Campaign stop in Detroit -
Jerry Wayne was challenging Biden’s interpretation of the Second Amendment, suggesting that the candidate was trying to ‘take away our guns’.
Biden shot back with ‘you’re full of shit’
JOE BIDEN
Raising large sums of money
Strengths
$1.69 billion raised in total.
$1.68 billion spent
$103,300,000 individual contributions
Biden Victory Fund - raised $72,924,000
JOE BIDEN
Raising large sums of money
Weaknesses
Biden’s never been a prolific fundraiser.
The model of fundraising has changed - In 2008, e.g., the model was that you found wealthy people who could send you checks. Smaller donations were never the main thrush of cash pushes - 2016 Bernie’s challenge to Clinton was a pivotal moment… Sander’s built a fundraising operation around smaller-dollar donations. He raised $237 million for his primary race (the power of online donations)
JOE BIDEN
Effective organisation
Strengths
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JOE BIDEN
Effective organisation
Weaknesses
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JOE BIDEN
Oratical and telegenic skills
Strengths
2008 - Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani said: ‘There’s only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, and a verb, and 9/11’
JOE BIDEN
Oratical and telegenic skills
Weaknesses
77 years of age - forgetfulness, stutters, painted as mentally unable.
‘no matter how hard the Democrats and their allies in the media try, Biden’s cognitive issues can no longer be ignored’
2020 October - Trump taunted Biden for forgetting Trump’s name and calling him ‘George’ - Biden addressed a virtual concert via a TV link and called his opponent George twice.
JOE BIDEN
Relevant policies
Strengths
- Biden wanted to set up a national contact-tracing programme, and establishing 10 testing centres in every state.
- Biden rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement. He signed the letter during his first day in office.
- Biden wants to protect and expand the ACA - he wants to lower eligibility age for Medicare (policy that provides medical benefits to the elderly 65-60)
- Believes racism is a systemic issue - has proposed grants to incentivise states in reducing incarceration. He rejected calls to defund the police. He also signed an executive order on his first day with a proclamation ending the barred entry to the USA for refugees and residents from 7 Muslim countries.
- March 2021 - Biden signed a $1.9 trillion economic relief bill that included $1400 payments, extension of jobless benefits, and a child tax credit that would help families out of poverty. This passed in Congress without a single Republican supporter - it is the largest spending bill in US history. A poll done by March Pew Research Centre found that 70% of US adults surveyed expressed support for the bill - 41% of Republicans agreed too.
JOE BIDEN
Relevant policies
Weaknesses
- Raising taxes for high earners to pay for investment into public services… this will only impact those earning $400,000 a year.
- Biden wants to ban assault weaponry, increase universal background checks, and limit the number of guns one person can purchase (one per month)
