Let’s say that the 2016 presidential election came down to just two candidates: Donald Trump…and you.
Who do you think would win?
Assume that you’re eligible to run for president despite age, nationality, other criteria, etc. I think I would actually stand a decent chance of winning, although I have zero experience as a candidate and would hate campaigning. I am also Asian-American, which some voters might not like.
I don’t think I can fake bullshit folksy chest-thumping jingocharm as well as Trump.
I picked me. I am a great big honky with public speaking experience. As an added bonus, I have some idea of what to say. With enough time and resources, I could defeat Trump.
Starting now? I doubt it.
I don’t think there’s a big enough “anyone but Trump” contingent to overcome just how badly anyone would realize I would be at the job. I couldn’t even fake being good at it.
Thing is, I don’t think Trump would want to win, either, so I don’t think it would ever come down that far.
Probably Trump. Neither of us is qualified to be President but Trump isn’t handicapped by the awareness of that fact.
Trump. It would be remarkably obvious that I have no desire to actually be President. Trump at least wants the job.
Trump would win. I don’t know if he would make a better President than I would, based on the principle of “least harm”, since neither of us would be able to enact any legislation worth mentioning.
If nominated, my strategy would be to choose someone reasonable as my VP, and make it clear that my first act as President would be to resign.
Regards,
Shodan
Trump would win because there’s no way in hell a NeoPagan with very left-wing views such as myself could possibly win such and election in the US at this time.
Are you saying that I get a billion dollars, international name recognition, a decade of top-rated television, familiarity with every celebrity and politician in America, and hair, even if the hair is stolen from Mickey’s broom in Fantasia?
Sign me up. I’ll run for President or anything else you like.
Otherwise, no. Trump wins.
Trump wins in the biggest landslide in the history of history. No unknown private citizen has a chance against a very well known celebrity billionaire. Even if Trump were to get caught in bed with a dead girl AND a live boy, people are simply not going to vote for some unknown person for POTUS.
Are we positing that I just miraculously appear on all of the ballots come November 2016? In that case, the overwhelming response would be “Who the Hell is that?”, and I’d be drowned under a sea of name recognition.
Or are we positing that there’s the usual buildup, and that for the months and years beforehand, I’ve been putting out commercials, giving speeches, debating, going on talk shows, and so on? In that case, I might stand a chance, but my platform would have to rest heavily on publishing my proposed cabinet.
Even then, I hold some pretty nonmainstream views on some topics, which would be hard for many people to swallow. But then again, we’re in a hypothetical world where I got the nomination, so maybe in that hypothetical world those positions are a lot more popular.
All told, I think the hypothetical is insufficiently specified to determine an answer.
This. Also, will I be the Democratic Party nominee for President? That would at least assure funding for my general election campaign.
Assuming (for some reason) the Democratic party chooses to back me, and no big third party candidates pop up (fat chance!), I think I’d have a good chance. I’m just barely eligible by age, but I have military service, government experience (in military logistics – perhaps not terribly applicable, but better than nothing), and of course I’m incredibly handsome :D. Plus, I have a multi-ethnic family that would look great in ads and on flyers.
Trump. Even if only because I’m a gay atheist.
I wouldn’t win against Trump, but my dog would. He’s totally adorable, much better groomed and better looking than Trump, smarter than Trump, loves everyone with tail-wagging enthusiasm and has never insulted anyone, and always has a smile on his face and a perennially optimistic outlook on everything. Given a podium and a microphone, he’d smile that doggie smile and look gorgeous but never actually say anything. The perfect politician. Trump would be crushed in a landslide.
Is your dog thirty-five years old? Because if so, we need to take a hard look at his VP choice.
Dog years, man, dog years! He’s about 65 in dog years. I’m taking the liberty offered in the OP of assuming that appropriate Constitutional amendments would be made. I can practically guarantee his choice of VP – it would be that German Shepherd he hangs out with, a good-natured but arthritic bitch who’s even older than he is. So this wouldn’t be a “youth” ticket by any means. If The Donald wants to make age an issue, bring it on. The voters will be swayed by cuteness, experience, and our can’t-miss slogan, “Who’s a Good Boy?”.
Let’s say 3 months. You get nominated in August 2016. The media suddenly gives you as much attention as Carson, Hillary or Bernie would have had.
Sarah Palin was a virtual unknown in 2008 before her VP candidacy, yet became a household name within weeks.
I would win, because I have a full head of natural hair. Women love to run their hands through my succulent locks.
My platform would closely follow R. Crumb’s “If I Was King of America.” First, I would take away everyone’s guns! Then I would take away their motorcycles, jet-skis, and other loud things. And I would spend four hours every morning in conference with the Secretary of Women’s Footwear.
I like your platform but I would hate you for your perfect hair. After you lost the election I would get the new President of the United States to bite you.