US Elections Night: Comment live coverage
Stay tuned for coverage of the 2016 US Presidential elections from the Boar Comment!
21:31
So here we are! We’ve all been waiting months and keeping up to date with the candidates. Trump and Clinton have been providing an endless stream of (often questionable) amusement, but now the time has come for one of them to take over governance of the US.
So far today, the polls have been open and the citizens of the US have been voting in droves. Guam have already voted in favour of Clinton but anything could happen in the meantime. Historically, the nominee won by Guam goes on to win the overall elections.
However, the polls ended at a tediously close point and there really isn’t any way of knowing just yet what’s going to happen.
Tea Count: 1 cup
21:58
Much to the delight of voters, Tweeters and easily-pleased peoples alike, the #DogsAtPollingStations trend has had an overseas revival in the US elections! Well worth a look if you’re finding the whole elections process a little bit dire…
22:26
The key issues of the presidential race seem to heavily revolve around the relationship of the US to the outside world – particularly on points such as immigration, international relations and foreign policy.
Though aside from their overarching policies, the race of late has begun to focus more on the failings of the individual candidates. It isn’t promising when these races turn away from true political rhetoric to personal attacks.
The race of late has begun to focus more on the failings of the individual candidates
Of course the failings of candidates are hugely important – however did the actual campaign promises of the candidates become disregarded slightly beneath the weight of personal controversies?
22:35
Donald Trump’s campaign team has already started claiming rigged voting in Nevada. I really thought they may last a little longer…
22.41
Very interestingly, 52% of the electorate are women which could benefit Clinton as this could be a significant contribution. However the number of millennial voters has fallen, meaning that Hillary could equally suffer from this.
52% of the electorate are women
22:49
Incredibly, it’s estimated that 25% of the electorate may have voted based off of disliking the other candidate too much – is this really how elections should be won?
25% of the electorate may have voted based off of disliking the other candidate too much
It’s a sad reality when a huge portion of the electorate are stuck in a “lesser of two evils” situation with voting. Hopefully this election will influence future elections, and candidates will be judged more harshly in the early stages of elections.
Why should students care?
Okay, so a brief hiatus from normal proceedings.
It would be very easy for students to be apathetic when it comes to the US elections; firstly, owing to the fact that millennials have a lower turnout so far this year than ever, and secondly, because we are all the way over the Atlantic.
In many ways, these elections are difficult to understand or follow at times. We have been overwhelmed by controversies, drowned in facts and figures, and now we’re expected to stay up until 5am just to find out what’s going to happen in a country which isn’t even ours. So why should we even care?
Warwick itself has numerous links to the US, either through visiting fellows, international students, partner universities and more. As an institution, we are deeply linked with the US and we can’t underestimate the direct impact that this night will have on many of the students and staff at Warwick.
Warwick itself has numerous links to the US, either through visiting fellows, international students, partner universities and more
Further to this, having an international understanding is fundamental in the modern world. In times of fraught relations between many countries, it is our job to understand what is happening in the world around around us. Our attitudes do act to shape the attitudes of many others, so our education is essential.
If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to have a drink with friends. Just do that. That’s what I’m doing.
23:28
According to the BBC, 54% of the electorate see Clinton unfavourably and 61% see Trump unfavourably. How can two widely unpopular figures progress to this point in the presidential race? Or is the race itself to blame for causing such unpopularity?
23:42
Tea Count: 3
I’m trying to think of other beverages to have before the polls close in 17 minutes. Any ideas?
23:54
Race and gender seem to be a defining feature in this election. Latinx communities even fear the idea of a Trump presidency as he has made threats of deportation and, of course, he has made numerous promises of a wall between Mexico and the US.
However Clinton is being viewed by some as a member of the “political elite” and therefore is disenfranchising voters by seeming inaccessible.
The two candidates are unpopular, however it seems that they are highly distinct in what it is which makes them unpopular
The two candidates are unpopular, however it seems that they are highly distinct in what it is which makes them unpopular. Quite how this influences the overall vote, we do not yet know. It will be interesting to find out how many registered voters simply did not go to the polling stations as they disliked both choices.
00:01
Indiana has been projected for Trump and the first polls are in.
00:03
Unsurprising that Vermont has been projected for Clinton as it is the home state of Democrat nominee Sanders.
Sanders fought as a very strong contender against Clinton in the initial stages and, in many ways, could be seen as just as revolutionary as Trump. Many Sanders supporters were outraged after his defeat by Clinton, however it would be interesting to know how or even if many of these supporters voted.
Update: Time for a stronger drink…
The popularity of the underdog…
As it stands, with 3 states projected, Trump is now ahead in the electoral race. It seems odd, especially when so many people have been openly anti-Trump. It’s easy to just criticise Trump as well as those who vote for and support his campaign.
However, there must be some sort of hope which Trump gives many people. Looking at the scenario from as unbiased a standpoint as possible, Trump’s ability to promise change is so important for the electorate.
Both the left and the right wing ends of the electorate are looking for more extreme figureheads to act out their vision
Though Obama has, generally speaking, done a good job under the circumstances, the popularity of trump shows the want of US citizens for monumental change. This is something which is very important to consider before simply dismissing Trump.
This also explains the initial popularity of Sanders at the start of the race. Both the left and the right wing ends of the electorate are looking for more extreme figureheads to act out their vision for the country.
There is a lot to learn from the popularity of these underdogs.
00:54
Honesty hour: My “Tea” count was in fact a vodka count
01:09
Technical difficulties have been blighting the Comment live blog, however like Bernie Sanders I shall persevere.
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