While the 2016 Presidential Election is more than a year away, many candidates have campaigns in full swing. This also means they are all over social media. Twitter has become an increasingly popular way to learn about candidates and their stance on key issues. After all, what better way to learn about candidates than through 140 characters or less?
DONALD TRUMP
Donald Trump is currently extremely popular and not just online. According to a recent CNN poll, Trump leads the Republican race with 18% support from Republican voters. Among leading candidates (both Democratic and Republican), Trump’s tweets are the by far the most popular. Many of his tweets gain more than 1,000 retweets.
Mexican gov doesn’t want me talking about terrible border situation & horrible trade deals. Forcing Univision to get me to stop- no way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2015
Many of Trump’s older tweets are also resurfacing and circulating around Twitter:
This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2014
And, of course, this gem exists:
I’ve always been a fan of Steve Jobs, especially after watching Apple stock collapse w/out him – but the yacht he built is truly ugly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2013
BERNIE SANDERS Bernie Sanders’ tweets also get his standpoint across effectively through Twitter. This tweet definitely got the attention of many young voters by this popular stance on marijuana:
It is an obscenity that we stigmatize so many young Americans with a criminal record for smoking marijuana… pic.twitter.com/bltCSDhyXx — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 28, 2015
Climate change threatens the planet, and we have a major political party denying its reality.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 23, 2015
HILLARY CLINTON Hillary Clinton’s trending tweets get her points across (and throw in a little bit of sass).
…and that’s why you don’t try to pick a fight on women’s economic security with Hillary Clinton. pic.twitter.com/85tdES0q3x — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 20, 2015
If Sen. McConnell thinks fighting for women and families is playing the “gender card”—okay. Here’s our #gendercard: pic.twitter.com/mtSCvJWqAD
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 21, 2015
In addition to her popular tweets, Clinton has taken over Vine recently. She’s become the center of two Vine trends. With more than 12 million loops, it’s no wonder that this video of Hillary Clinton has been remade and made fun of countless times.
Clinton’s second Vine trend places the most famous line of her campaign announcement video in strange (and hilarious) situations.
There’s no doubt that Trump, Sanders and Clinton all stand out on social media, which is important in this new media age. Twitter, Vine, and social media as a whole play a huge role in how the people view candidates today. The question is: do the popularity of these tweets and vines indicate who will become the frontrunners of the 2016 Presidential Race?
Do you think being a viral sensation can translate into becoming the President? Let us know in the comments!
