With the last Presidential Debate for the 2016 Election coming into play, millennial voters will be the focus of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and their campaigns. Through recent polls, millennials make up around 36% of the overall voters in this election, more than any other election in past years. Besides the white, middle-aged women voting in this election, the millennial vote comes in a close second in aspects of importance. With the election coming soon to a close, it is the question both candidates are pursuing to answer…Who will get the millennial vote?
With scandals like the recent NBC release of Donald Trump talking about grabbing women by certain body parts and Hillary Clinton and the WikiLeaks, which candidate seems less critical in the eyes of the millennial. According to this article, the WikiLeaks emails are not as damaging for Hillary Clinton compared to the NBC video release. In comparison, this article displays how Hillary Clinton and her WikiLeaks scandal are just covered up by her meticulous and methodical political self. The article states, “In other words, she’s a Clinton-a Democrat who believes in progressive goals, but who’s willing to trim them, postpone them, and even throw them under a bus when practical politics requires”. According to this article, Hillary Clinton is at risk of losing the campaign because millennial voters just simply do not like her or feel that she is honest. Many millennials feel that actions speak louder than words, and this election is the perfect example of that. For both the Republican and Democratic parties, vigorous political advertisements from both sides of the campaign are focusing on one another’s campaign flaws to entice the millennial voter.
Throughout both Trump and Clinton’s presidential campaigns, the candidates have chosen surrogates to speak more effectively to millennials and grasp their attention. Whether the surrogates spoke to millennials about climate change, taxes, a better economy, or student loans, surrogates have been much more effective and relatable for millennials rather than Trump or Clinton. According to this article, celebrity support also helps boost the millennial support and voting. In some instances, the candidates have chosen past Presidents, Vice Presidents, and even celebrities and athletes to reach the realm of the millennial mindset. For example, Hillary Clinton has chosen Al Gore to preach about Climate change, while celebrities like Katy Perry, Eva Longoria and George Clooney have all voiced their support of Hillary Clinton.
On the other hand, Trump has had Paul Ryan campaign to young voters and has had many celebrities come out in support of Trump and his campaign. According to this article, Donald Trump also has quite the celebrity following to entice the millennial voters. These celebrities include Quarterback Tom Brady, Willie Robertson, Dennis Rodman, and Kid Rock.
After filtering through my own Facebook page, I have found it very interesting, amusing, and sometimes frustrating, to find out who supports Hillary and who supports Trump. As a millennial voter myself, I often find myself unsure of who to side with or if I even want to vote. Scrolling through the Facebook “newsfeed” has helped shape and discourage me at different times from both candidates. Facebook has been a continuous political advertisement since the Democratic and GOP primaries last year. When searching both candidates on Facebook, Donald Trump’s Facebook page has received “likes” from 160 of my Facebook friends, compared to Hillary Clinton’s “likes” from only 60 of my Facebook friends. I believe this holds true to the fact that millennial voters stay firm in their belief that they do not like Hillary. The Facebook posts I have come across in favor of Hillary come from extremely liberal Facebook friends across the United States.
Both candidates must focus on the last debate of this election and attribute much of their attention to the millennial viewers. Through campaign advertisements, millennials see much of each candidates abilities (and inabilities) to serve as the next President of The United States of America. Both candidates must express their sides on taxes, fixing the economy, creating jobs, and student loans. The candidates also should plan to discuss issues that could relate to millennial female voters such as programs like Planned Parenthood, abortion rights and maternity leave. Concepts like this could change the stance of many female millennial voters and sway them one way or another. Only time (and the next debate) will tell who is able to get one step close to attaining the millennial vote and becoming the next President.