US Presidential Election 2016: Fractures appear in both the Republican and Democrat party as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton prepare for battle

By:

Add as a preferred source on Google

It's undeniable that Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton have vast swaths of support across the United States. 

While not yet confirmed, their one-one-one will undoubtedly be a brutal battle, with Trump having repeatedly attacked Clinton, principally his accusation that she's playing the "women card". And for her part, Clinton has released an advert against Trump which features solely Republicans slamming Trump. 

Yet it is the content of this video that is more telling of the fractious state of American politics at current: both the Republican and Democrat party seem unable to unify.

Outspoken, controversial and brash, Trump is now the presumptive Republican candidate after his last remaining rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out of the race after Trump won the Indiana primary.

And so, the story goes, Trump has vowed to unite the Republican party after a bitter and intense campaign, during which he spent much of his time belittling his opponents. 

Trump said he was "confident that I can unite much" of the Republican party. But he's also said in reference to some Republicans: "Honestly, there are some people I really don’t want. I don’t think it is necessary. People will be voting for me, they’re not voting for the party."

Read more: Donald Trump would be unlikely to make any changes anyway?

Already two former Republican presidents, George HW Bush and George W Bush, have already said they will not participate in the election, tacitly refusing to endorse Trump.

HW Bush is "retired from politics", while W Bush "does not plan to participate in or comment on the presidential campaign".

An advisor for Jeb Bush, Trump's former rival, is reported to have laughed when asked if he would consider being Trump's running mate, while Kasich's spokesperson unambiguously declined the hypothetical offer.

Even before the Indiana result, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, tweeted to say: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it”.

Perhaps Graham would be relieved to hear that according to Real Clear Politics, which takes account of all polls, Clinton has a 6.5 per cent lead on Trump in a tête-a-tête.

But even on the Democrat side of the race, which has been less publicised and less contentious, senator Bernie Sanders' supporters aren't too keen on Clinton.

Unlike the Republicans, Sanders himself has said he' d back Clinton, asserting the key goal must be not to allow the Republicans to win back the White House.

But a poll in March indicated that 33 per cent of Sanders supporters wouldn't vote for Clinton in November.

That may be because many Sanders' supporters associate themselves as anti-establishment (something Trump has going for him, by the way).

Read more: Clinton vs Trump – whose economic policy is better for markets?

Sanders' victory speech in Indiana reveals the importance of these voters, and perhaps how many there are: "The Clinton campaign thinks this campaign is over. They’re wrong. Maybe it’s over for the insiders and the party establishment, but the voters in Indiana had a different idea."

He's actually attacked Clinton on a number of issues over the course of the election, from her position on trade, relationship with corporate donors and support from the Washington establishment. 

Yet Clinton didn't mention Sanders in her speech. She instead focused on Trump, asking supporters to "chip in now if you agree we can’t let him become president".

But just as Clinton and Sanders have traded blows, as the campaign moves forward, the gloves are coming off between Trump and Clinton. 

It remains to be seen if an ugly fight will also be seen within either of their parties as well.