America’s presidential candidates: Trump and Clinton

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AMERICA votes for its next president on November 8th, but the two major parties, the Democrats and Republicans, hold primary elections in March, to select their candidates. This year, the Democratic nominee will be Hillary Clinton, who has already bested her main rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, as a popular choice. On the Republican side, billionaire real estate tycoon Donald Trump has the biggest following, although there is a lot of opposition to him, even in his own party. Although he has never held political office, Mr. Trump warned that there would be “riots” if, for any reason, he was denied nomination.

Many leaders in the Republican Party are appalled at Trump’s incendiary rhetoric, and they believe that his policy positions are not in tune with core Republican values, such as his vow to deport eleven million illegal immigrants; ban Muslims from entering the United States; and build a wall along the border with Mexico, to keep out illegal migrants. They also disagree with his ideas about imposing protectionist trade policies, to protect American interests. Bu their efforts to stop him have come too late. The Republican field of candidates, which once numbered 16 party leaders, has dwindled down to three, with the 69-year- old Trump at the top, ahead of 45-year- old Senator Ted Cruz and 63-yearold Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Speaking to followers from his beach resort in Florida, Trump called on his fellow Republicans to unite behind him and made the point that he had already spoken to the two top-elected Republicans, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, and Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell.

“The fact is, we have to bring our party together,” Trump said. “We have something happening that actually makes the Republican Party the biggest political story anywhere in the world,” referring to the fact that he has drawn millions of new voters into the Republican ranks.

After six weeks of presidential primaries and caucuses in the United States, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Re- publican Donald Trump are ahead of the pack. Clinton, who hopes to be America’s first female president, is likely to be the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the November 8th election. She already has a considerable lead over her rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, in terms of delegates. Clinton has also won between 70 and 90 percent of the black vote in most states, and two-thirds of the Hispanic vote in Florida and Texas.