Presidential Election 2016

The presidential election of 2016 marks a potential turning point in American history. As of this writing, the election is more than a year away, but the campaigning for the position is well underway. Where 2008 was historic for the election of the first African American president, the 2016 presidential election could prove equally historic in the election of the first woman president.

Since President Obama is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, both Democrats and Republicans are seeking a new candidate for the office. On the Democratic side, former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is perceived as the front runner, the candidate with the most name recognition and organization. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, however, is making serious inroads among the left wing of the Democrats, making that contest no sure thing.

On the Republican side, the summer of 2015 has witnessed a total of fourteen declared candidates all seeking the nomination. The Republicans held their first debate of the campaign season in August 2015, with the top ten candidates all vying for name recognition. Billionaire Donald Trump, garnering headlines in the summer of 2015, has threatened to become a third party candidate in the presidential election of 2016 if he does not receive the GOP nomination. In the race for the presidential election of 2016, American politics may prove to be the most exciting sport to watch.