How Will This Election Go? Donald Trump Vs. Joe Biden

This year’s presidential election is undoubtedly one of the most crucial in our nation’s history. It will be telling of how the majority of American voters view the country, and how they believe is the most effective way to operate. As the year 2020 has progressed, many challenges have presented themselves for Americans to handle. These challenges have changed how a normal election year would look for two presidential campaigns. The inability to have large crowds, and hostility between people with differing views have made it harder for the campaigns to present themselves to the American public.

Each party campaigning for the White House has the most contrasting views on critical issues than ever before. There is an unprecedented approach to politics, and the handling of issues. There are more far right, and far left perspectives, rather than those from the middle. Putting aside the stance on the individual issues that each party takes, the way 2020 has played out has forced a change in how each campaign will operate. Throughout the summer months, each candidate was seldom able to gather crowds to hold rallies. They also weren’t able to give interviews, which could then be shown on national television for the American public. The candidates were forced to be less transparent than they usually would be.

This undoubtedly turned out to be a disadvantage for President Trump. He thrives off of the public and the passion of his supporters. His rallies and parades gathered huge numbers of people, and that inevitably was to his advantage. He also benefited from being the most transparent as possible, and saying everything on his mind. Since most of those opportunities weren’t available this year, he was forced to do the best with the hand he was dealt.

Democratic candidate Joe Biden, on the other hand, most definitely benefited in a large way from the way this year has played out. He clearly has struggled in public appearances, and has said many controversial things when under pressure speaking live. For many months, he stayed in his home in Greenville, Delaware, only releasing pre-recorded videos.

Although this year has been different, some normalcy was able to happen. There were two presidential debates, one vice presidential debate, separate town hall meetings for each candidate, and a full hearing for a new Supreme Court Justice nomination, in which nominee Amy Comey Barrett was confirmed, securing a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court of the United States.

In the first debate, President Trump seemed to be under-prepared, and resorted to constant personal attacks to Joe Biden. Biden however, was appropriately prepared and let President Trump make himself look bad, rather than him making Biden look bad. Many can agree that the first debate was unproductive, and included more anarchy than order. Very few valid arguments were made, and the American public struggled to understand what each candidate was exactly trying to argue for.

The second debate showed there is true power in self-restraint. President Trump let Joe Biden speak for the full two minutes at the start of each topic, and he struggled at times, as expected. The President used his time wisely and argued his cases for anyone watching. That along with further incriminating evidence of Joe and his son Hunter’s scandal with Ukraine surfacing just hours before the debate, made many believe that President Trump was fit for re-election.

Putting all of these technical arguments aside, and realistically thinking, this election goes way beyond who campaigned better, and who won the debates. This election has everything to do with the minds of the voters. In the 244 year history of this country, we have never had an election in a time of such uncertainty, in a time of such tension, and in a time of such strongly contrasting opinions. This election will fall directly into the opinions of the American voters.

This election, despite many predictions, has changed the fewest minds that any election has ever before. Considering how polarizing both candidates are, for opposite reasons, have led to every single American to have an opinion. A rally or a debate won’t change anyone’s view on an issue. People are set on their views, and no one is varying. That’s how impactful this election will be. As for who will win, that’s still very much unknown.