There are around a hundred million families in the United States yet the Clinton and Obama dynasties look set to dominate American politics for 40 years.
READ MORE: ‘Clinton Inc.’: The Family Business of Politics and Power.
Anything is possible in politics. President Hillary could even nominate Barack Obama to the Supreme Court – making him the first ex-POTUS to become a Justice since William Howard Taft. “Wow, what a great idea,” Hillary said when the suggestion was put to her at an Iowa campaign event.
Meanwhile, Michelle Obama’s huge popularity suggests she could easily follow husband Barack by becoming President; that could pave the way for either or both of their daughters, Malia and Sasha, to return to Pennsylvania Avenue.
The first lady is on record saying that she has no designs on the presidency. Earlier this year at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, she said, “I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it.” But Democratic Party officials may well try to persuade her otherwise. And why not? What a feat for the country to have the first female minority in the Oval Office.
But what about the couple’s daughter? Is it possibly that Chelsea Clinton is waiting in the wings as a likely candidate to continue the family business? Only time will tell. But with her growing list of accomplishments, including her work for the Clinton Foundation, media presence with NBC, appointment to several boards and seemingly deft touch for public speaking, Chelsea is poised for big things at the age of 36.
READ MORE: Hear Michelle Obama’s Epic Speech About Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
That’s because name recognition with the electorate is a hugely important factor in politics, as repeated studies indicate – and election results – have shown throughout history. Much of country seems to agree, as a common mantra throughout the 2016 election is that Hillary understands diplomacy, she understands Foreign Policy, she understands Congress and she has “been there and done that” for decades.
The Republican Party has already had two members of the Bush family in the Oval Office and a third, Jeb Bush, was a candidate for the nomination until he got “Trumped.”
READ MORE: The 11 Most WTF Donald Trump Tweets.
Speaking of Trump – whether he wins or loses the White House, we may not have seen the last of his name in politics. The idea of Ivanka Trump taking on Chelsea Clinton to become leader of the free world is not that far-fetched.
However, candidates with low name recognition are unlikely to get votes from those members of the electorate who only follow politics casually – which is most of them. “Brand name advantage gives a significant edge over comparable, non dynastic, opponents,” concluded a study by the Legislative Studies Quarterly.
Donald Trump got his name recognition from a high-profile role on television, mainly as host of NBC’s “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice.” The previous two Republican candidates for the White House, Mitt Romney and John McCain, both had famous political fathers. So too did George W. Bush, whose father, the first President Bush, was himself the son of a U.S. Senator.
READ MORE: Admitting That I Am a C-Word.
Time and again it has been shown that voters will favor a name they have heard of over an unfamiliar opponent. So maybe Kanye West wasn’t joking when he declared at MTV’s Video Music Awards last year that he would run for the White House in 2020.
He insisted he was serious about it in a recent interview, telling the BBC, “I don’t have views on politics, I just have a view on humanity, on people, on the truth. If there is anything that I can do with my time and my day, to somehow make a difference while I’m alive I’m going to try to do it.”
Name recognition is certainly on his side. If anyone can stop the seemingly inevitable Clinton and Obama continuation of power maybe, of all people, it’s Kanye.
