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In the Republican presidential primary race, poll numbers in the states with the earliest primaries now appear to show candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson running neck-and-neck. Trump’s anti-Washington establishment campaign and blunt rhetoric set him apart early in a field of more than 15 GOP candidates, but the latest polls from Iowa show brain surgeon Ben Carson pulling ahead. Polls in New Hampshire still show Trump in the lead. The fact that both candidates come from outside of Washington gives them an important outsider appeal for Republican primary voters, according to Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report. Politically, many of their views align, but the two candidates have very different personalities, Walter said. Trump has a reputation for being outspoken and fiery, while Carson’s calm, even tone contradicts some of his more provocative statements. The outsider appeal of these candidates has created problems for mainstream candidates like former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who was originally expected to be an early favorite in the race. “He is an establishment candidate who is talking about his record and his accomplishments as governor, when Republican primary voters want an outsider and somebody who is going to shake up the system,” Walter said. With the first round of primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire still several months away, plenty of time remains for a clear frontrunner to materialize in the Republican field. In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders still remains behind Hillary Clinton in most polls. The two candidates spent last weekend at event fundraisers in various parts of the country where they attempted to distinguish themselves as the more progressive candidate.Vocab
outsider candidate
– someone who comes from outside Washington and does not have experience as a “career politician,” often campaigns on changing how things are done
primary
– a preliminary election in which registered political party voters nominate candidates for office and choose delegates to attend their party’s convention. The first two presidential primaries of the 2016 election cycle will take place in Iowa and New Hampshire in February.
establishment
- a dominant group that holds power or authority in a nation or an institution
Warm up questions
- What is the purpose of a political poll?
- What characteristics do you think are important to have in a presidential candidate?
- Do you think it’s too early to discuss the 2016 presidential election?
Critical thinking questions
- Why are voters sometimes attracted to outsider candidates?
- Why do you think Ben Carson pulled ahead of Donald Trump in the polls?
- Hillary Rodham Clinton recently said, “I cannot imagine anyone would be more of an outsider than the first woman president.” Do you agree? Explain your answer.
