A highly controversial 19 months but the US election has finally come to an end. Sarah Bryan sits down with Nottingham professor Dr Todd Landman to discuss this landmark election.
The US election, a topic that has had a mixture of reviews from the people of Nottingham.
Dr Todd Landman (pictured), originally from Pennsylvania, a professor at The University of Nottingham teaching Political Science sits down to discuss the landmark election.
The results are in, and after all the campaigning, attacks, and scandals, the President of the United States is Donald Trump.
Dr Landman’s reaction was one of shock, “Trump is the most successful outside candidate in the history of the US.”
“The big surprise was Ohio, the silent majority was much bigger than expected.”
When asked at first what the students and staff at the university thought to the whole debate, Dr Landman said: “The students at Nottingham have been very engaged.
“We had a session with over 300 students attending, and there had been a lot of staff engagement with the media.
“I do get the sense from our staff at the university that people were worried about a Trump victory and what that will mean for the world.”
What may seem like troubling times ahead, Dr Landman offers a look back on what we have seen from the campaign.
“The campaign has been the most contentious in a very long time.
“Trump has been a real surprise and has been much more successful than people anticipated, but his rhetoric has been very shocking to observers, and he has alienated a larger part of the electorate.”
In contrast to the view of the students on the election, the people of Nottingham gave their views on the controversial topic.
Nigel Smith, a plumber of Mansfield said: “I have been watching the coverage of the election, mainly the debates, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with us.
The 54-year-old said: “It seems either one of them could be a risky president.”
Anne Blair, of West Bridgford said: “I have been following it, it has been so tense and close throughout.
The 72-year-old said: “Compared to our elections, the USA’s always seem more flamboyant, perhaps we could learn and take something from that for our elections.
“It would certainly get more people involved.”
Louis Biggs, an electrician of Beeston, said: “I have seen it all on social media every day so it was kind of hard to avoid it.
The 24-year-old said: “I don’t think it will affect Nottingham directly, but it could influence other politicians in the area, perhaps taking ideas of the campaigns and implementing them into their own.”
However the campaigns and debates must be recognised, despite the turn out and celebrity faces making them look somewhat like a rock concert, Dr Landman discusses them.
“The conventions this year were okay, but Hillary missed the opportunity to really set out a strong vision for America, and Trump went very dark with his convention speech.
“The debates were fascinating to watch more for the body language and demeanour than for the actual substance, which was lacking this year.
“I think debates a good practice from the US model that can be used here.”
Sky News neatly summed up both parties campaigns.
These are @RealDonaldTrump‘s main policies. Swot up on them in the final days of the #USElections2016 pic.twitter.com/YU35EgdztR
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 4, 2016
Learn @HillaryClinton‘s big policies with our handy cheatsheet gif #USElections2016 pic.twitter.com/3QjzTKtMzI
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 2, 2016
With a similar divide happening in Britain regarding Brexit, Dr Landman discusses the change in politics both in the US and in Britain.
“I think the incredible diversity in Nottingham needs to be recognised, and that the worst forms of political behaviour seen in the US should be avoided here.
“This is a very important election that pits a losing and shrinking demographic against a winning and more diverse demographic.
“The traditional American voter is changing, and the democrats have benefited from this change more than the republicans.
When summing up on what the people out of Nottingham could get from this election, Dr Landman spoke of lessons to be learned for aspiring politicians.
“The key lesson for any aspiring politicians is listen to the concerns of people, but to also be discerning in one’s judgments and pronouncements.
“The more combative and personal side of American politics would be an unwelcome development here in Nottingham and in the U.K.
“Our recent Nottingham in Parliament Day where we held forty-five events in Parliament on 25 October for 2500 people showed once again, that Nottingham’s MPs are approachable, open to dialogue, and committed to issues.
“I would say there is much our MPs could teach American politicians.”
