Donald Trump’s Presidential Campaign
Donald Trump announced his candidacy for President on June 16, 2015. He emerged as the presumptive nominee on May 3, 2016, when the last two remaining candidates – John Kasich and Ted Cruz – pulled out of the presidential race. Trump made some controversial statements which helped his campaign gain extensive coverage. However, his statements on illegal immigration, military interventions and various free trade agreements have helped him gain popular support.
Campaigning
On June 16, 2015, Donald Trump announced that he was running for the president of the United States at Trump Tower in New York City. Announcing his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”, Trump talked about issues such as offshoring of American jobs, Islamic terrorism, US national debt and illegal immigration.
After announcing his candidacy in the US presidential election, Donald Trump began traveling to several states to campaign ahead of the start of the 2016 Republican primaries and caucuses. He visited Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to hold caucuses and primaries respectively on February 1 and February 9. In July 2015, he also visited Las Vegas and Los Angeles where he gave speeches and rallies.
On July 18, 2015, Donald Trump made a statement on John McCain saying that McCain was not a war hero because he was captured. Trump further stated that he liked people who weren’t captured.
In his announcement speech, Donald Trump said that if elected president he would build a wall along the US-Mexico border to keep illegal immigrants out.
Following the deadly November 2015 Paris attacks, Donald Trump called for a complete ban on Muslims entering the United States.
During his campaigning, Trump has had high poll numbers. A survey released on July 9, 2015, by The Economist/YouGov showed Trump as the 2016 Republican presidential frontrunner. Other polls that showed Trump in favorable light included a Suffolk/USA Today poll released on July 14, 2015 which showed Trump with 17% support among Republican voters. A Washington Post/ABC News poll taken on July 16–19, showed Trump had 24% Republican support, just to name a few.
Donald Trump entered the caucuses and primaries with great optimism but lost to Ted Cruz in the Iowa caucus that was held on February 1. However, he performed well in the New Hampshire primary that was held a week later coming first with 35 percent of the votes.
Following his spectacular victory in New Hampshire, Donald Trump scored wins in South Carolina, Nevada, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee and many other states. Following Trump’s victory in the March 15 Florida primary, Marco Rubio pulled out from the presidential race. By the beginning of May 2016, Donald Trump was leading both in the number of states and delegates won. Ted Cruz’s disastrous performance in the Indiana primary forced him to suspend his presidential campaign. Shortly afterwards, John Kasich too withdrew from the race leaving Donald Trump the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.
Endorsements
Some of the prominent personalities and organizations that endorsed Donald Trump include – U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan, America’s Border Patrol Agents, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Ben Carson, former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Maine Governor Paul LePage, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Mike Tyson, Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock, to name just a few.
Funding
Donald Trump’s popular appeal and media attention have helped him to secure campaign donations. Trump’s campaign has raised around $25 million. Of this amount, individual donors have contributed only $7.5 million. The most active donors are health and real estate professionals. The rest of the amount has been raised by self-funding.