As it has been reported, former President George H.W Bush has apparently voiced his support for Hillary Clinton in the up-and-coming Presidential election; an extraordinary rebuke of the Republican Party's nominee, a party he has devoted his life in politics to serving. The claim was reported by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend who posted a Facebook photo of herself with the 41st President with the caption "The President told me he's voting for Hillary!" The Bush family have remained quiet in response to the issue and fairly silent on the subject of the 2016 elections as a whole following the swift exit of Jeb Bush from the race. However both George H.W Bush and his son, former President George W. Bush, have said they would not endorse Donald Trump in his quest to become the 45th President of the United States.
This marks yet another prominent Republican figure controversially choosing to support the Democratic candidate rather than endorsing Donald J. Trump. During this unusual time in American politics, we see a major party splitting in a way like never before, a situation from which Hillary Clinton can greatly benefit and use to her advantage, capturing votes from lifelong Republicans, an entirely foreign concept in a country whose political system has largely centred around party allegiance in a two-party system.
This confirms what has been a divisive campaign for the Republican Party, with an unconventional and inexperienced candidate causing the party to divide and fracture in a unique way like never before. While some prominent Republican figures have been willing to endorse and show their support to Trump, controversy began during the GOP Republican Convention during summer, when former nominee Ted Cruz failed to endorse the chosen Republican candidate during his key-note speech. Further fracturing within the party has come from Mitt Romney who has on numerous occasions criticised and ridiculed Donald Trump both on Twitter and throughout his own speeches, stating his view that Trump is not fit for the role of President of the United States. Former Republican candidate John Kasich has further reinforced this rhetoric, although not voicing a preference for Hillary Clinton, Kasich has also described himself as 'very unlikely' to vote for Donald Trump in November, turning his back on his party.
This failure to gather support from prominent figures within the Republican Party has been the recurrent cause of devastating blows to the campaign of Trump- who has failed to unite the party behind him following his use of divisive rhetoric, insults and negative comments throughout what has been an incredibly unusual campaign. If anything, Trump's rhetoric of 'building walls' has transcended within the workings of the Republican Party, cutting off potential support for himself and his campaign rather than bonding the party as one.
As Donald Trump fails to get members of his own party to vote for him are we starting to see the beginnings of a landslide victory for Clinton in November? With a fractured and divided party that are not able to come together behind their candidate, the situation looks like it can only benefit the Democratic nominee whom I am sure will welcome the endorsements of any former Republican Presidents with open arms.