WMNews: RNC VS. DNC Conventions Facts
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
Script written by Script
In 2016's version of these conventions, there have been speeches and celebrities, protests and promises, tears, cheers and political pot shots. Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from WatchMojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we're counting down 10 crucial factsyou should know about the Republican and Democrat Conventions.
Special thanks to our users speechjon for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
In 2016's version of these conventions, there have been speeches and celebrities, protests and promises, tears, cheers and political pot shots. Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from WatchMojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we're counting down 10 crucial factsyou should know about the Republican and Democrat Conventions.
Special thanks to our users speechjon for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Script written by Sean Harris
In 2016’s version of these conventions, there have been speeches and celebrities, protests and promises, tears, cheers and political pot shots. Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from WatchMojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we’re counting down 10 crucial factsyou should know about the Republican and Democrat Conventions.
#10: What Happened at the Republican National Convention (RNC)?
Held July 18th-21st, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Ohio, the RNC saw Donald Trump formally named as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, with Mike Pence as his running mate. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush and Rand Paul had all previously dropped out of the race to lead the Republicans, or suspended their campaigns, making Trump’s eventual victory an almost foregone conclusion. Trump won the vote on the first ballot with 69.8% of the delegates, which stands as the lowest percentage of delegates won by the Republican nominee since Gerald Ford in 1976.
#9: What Happened at the Democrativ National Convention (DNC)?
Held the following week, July 25th-28th, 2016 at Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the DNC saw Hillary Clinton officially nominated as leader of the Democrats, with Senator Tim Kaine securing his role as her running mate and nominated as vice president. Bernie Sanders, who proved an unexpected force in winning 23 primaries and caucuses during his own campaign, had pushed Clinton throughout her campaign. Though Sanders gave his endorsement to Clinton in July, he still urged his supporters to continue the political revolution his campaign had begun, but under Clinton’s leadership instead. Upon her victory, Hillary became the first woman to be nominated for President by a major political party in the US.
In the run-up to the RNC, Donald Trump promised a glitzy and glamorous affair, rounded off with a host of well known faces. While there were less conventionally political speakers than might’ve been expected, actors and athletes gathered to give Trump their backing. Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson opened the program, before Happy Days actor Scott Baio gave his endorsement. Antonio Sabato Jr., of “General Hospital”, also made an appearance, as well as soap opera star Kimberlin Brown andLPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis. Critics have pointed to the lack of any major A-list name, however. Reports even circulated that Justin Bieber was offered $5 million toperform at the convention, but the Canadian singer turned it down.
#7: What Were the Highlights of the DNC?
For the Democratic convention, less focus was put on the speakers, and more on the actual speeches themselves. Outgoing President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and fellow nominee Bernie Sanders all took to the podium in support of Hillary Clinton. Perhaps the most moving and effective support for the would-be first female President came from the current First Lady, though. Michelle Obama’s 14 minutes on the mic received worldwide attention for her passionate reflections on Hillary as a role model for future generations. Cheryl Lankford’s revelations that Trump University “cheated” her out of insurance money following her husband’s death in Baghdad could also prove particularly persuasive for undecided voters. And the DNC had its fair share of celeb endorsement too; Meryl Streep, Sarah Silverman andElizabeth Banks all featured.
#6: Were There Any Issues That Arose During the Conventions?
The biggest controversy at the RNC surrounded the speech made by Donald Trump’s wife Melania, on the first day of the event. Melania’s words were enthusiastically applauded at the time, but several lines were subsequently found to have been lifted from a speech delivered by Michelle Obama at the 2008 Democratic National convention. Reactions to the supposed plagiarism were mixed; a Trump staffer took the blame, but Trump himself posted a tweet that that essentially declared all publicity is good publicity. At the DNC, the most pressing issue for the Clinton camp came from supporters of her one-time rival, Bernie Sanders. When Sanders delivered his endorsement of Hillary, there were widespread boos in the hall, as many Democrats believed that Bernie was unfairly forced out of the reckoning to become party leader.
#5: Which Convention Pulled Bigger Audiences?
In the ratings war, the DNC came out on top with more people watching the Democrats than the Republicans on average. Viewing figures for the first, second and third nights of the Democrat convention beat the respective nights at the RNC, but figures for the final night are a lot more even – with reports suggesting that Donald Trump’s official acceptance speech was watched by more people than the corresponding speech made by Hillary Clinton. According to Fortune, the DNC averaged 29.2 million viewers over four nights while the RNC pulled in 25.2 million; however, only 33.3 million people watched Clinton on final night, compared to 34.9 million for Trump.
#4: What Were the Major Differences Between the Two Conventions?
Often, throughout history, the party conventions have proven reasonably similar to one another, with presumptive leaders divided over specific so-called ‘hot topics’. In 2016 though, some important social issues went almost entirely under the radar as each party set out its stall. When analyzing the tone taken at each convention, the Washington Post was even led to ask “Are the RNC and DNC talking about the same country?” For Donald Trump, law and order was placed high on the agenda, with references made to terrorism, illegal immigrants and crime. The rhetoric out of the DNC was much softer and calmer, however, with emphasis placed on togetherness, diversity and compassion. Democratic delegate Karla Stoebig seemed to summarize the two options being thrust at the American public; while she conceded that ‘fear is a strong motivator’, she hoped that ‘love is a better plan’.
#3: Who Are the Major Supporters of Donald Trump?
As well as those who made an appearance at the RNC, Donald Trump’s celebrity endorsements include Dennis Rodman, Kid Rock, Mike Tyson and Azealia Banks. Charlie Sheen has shown support too, although he has also previously described the Republican leader as ‘a shame pile of idiocy’ on Twitter. Trump has seemingly found political endorsements a little more difficult to come by though. Former Vice Presidents Dick Cheney and Dan Quayle are behind him, while the decorated ex-CIA officer Gary Berntsen and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld also back Trump. The Republican leader has also been endorsed by at least 35 current US senators.
#2: Who Are the Major Supporters of Hillary Clinton?
In terms of celebrities, Hillary Clinton has been backed by the likes of Robert De Niro, Beyonce, Amy Schumer and George and Amal Clooney – to name a few. The former Secretary of State also has strong backing from the White House itself with Barack and Michelle Obama, and a number of important politicians are in her corner. Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Al Gore are all behind her, and at least 45 current US Senators have officially endorsed her. Hillary also made surprising headway with the press shortly after the DNC; on July 30th, the typically Republican Houston Chronicle issued its support for the Democrat leader.
#1: Which Convention Came Out on Top?
While the viewing figures suggest that there was more public interest in the DNC, the final night numbers seem to prove that the Republicans’ trump card is Trump himself. The conventions served as a launch pad for the presidential campaigns for both parties, and while they weren’t without their hiccups neither camp is likely to be too disappointed with the general outcome. The Republicans had to swerve some difficult questions after their would-be First Lady’s speech, but Donald Trump was still the most-watched figure across both events. The Democrats had to overcome inter-party issues after pro-Bernie Sanders protests, but Hillary Clinton still emerged looking strong, and seemingly in control. As the race for the White House narrows down to two official runners, the conventions gave us a glimpse of how the months leading up to the U.S. presidential election would enfold.
Did these facts get you thinking? To vote for which news story is covered next head over to WatchMojo.com/suggest, and be sure to hit that subscribe button for more newsworthy top tens published every week!
WMNews: RNC And DNC Convention
In 2016’s version of these conventions, there have been speeches and celebrities, protests and promises, tears, cheers and political pot shots. Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from WatchMojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we’re counting down 10 crucial factsyou should know about the Republican and Democrat Conventions.
#10: What Happened at the Republican National Convention (RNC)?
The Cleveland Show
Held July 18th-21st, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Ohio, the RNC saw Donald Trump formally named as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, with Mike Pence as his running mate. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush and Rand Paul had all previously dropped out of the race to lead the Republicans, or suspended their campaigns, making Trump’s eventual victory an almost foregone conclusion. Trump won the vote on the first ballot with 69.8% of the delegates, which stands as the lowest percentage of delegates won by the Republican nominee since Gerald Ford in 1976.
#9: What Happened at the Democrativ National Convention (DNC)?
The Philadelphia Show
Held the following week, July 25th-28th, 2016 at Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the DNC saw Hillary Clinton officially nominated as leader of the Democrats, with Senator Tim Kaine securing his role as her running mate and nominated as vice president. Bernie Sanders, who proved an unexpected force in winning 23 primaries and caucuses during his own campaign, had pushed Clinton throughout her campaign. Though Sanders gave his endorsement to Clinton in July, he still urged his supporters to continue the political revolution his campaign had begun, but under Clinton’s leadership instead. Upon her victory, Hillary became the first woman to be nominated for President by a major political party in the US.
#8: What Were the Highlights of the RNC?
The Star PowerIn the run-up to the RNC, Donald Trump promised a glitzy and glamorous affair, rounded off with a host of well known faces. While there were less conventionally political speakers than might’ve been expected, actors and athletes gathered to give Trump their backing. Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson opened the program, before Happy Days actor Scott Baio gave his endorsement. Antonio Sabato Jr., of “General Hospital”, also made an appearance, as well as soap opera star Kimberlin Brown andLPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis. Critics have pointed to the lack of any major A-list name, however. Reports even circulated that Justin Bieber was offered $5 million toperform at the convention, but the Canadian singer turned it down.
#7: What Were the Highlights of the DNC?
The Speeches
For the Democratic convention, less focus was put on the speakers, and more on the actual speeches themselves. Outgoing President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and fellow nominee Bernie Sanders all took to the podium in support of Hillary Clinton. Perhaps the most moving and effective support for the would-be first female President came from the current First Lady, though. Michelle Obama’s 14 minutes on the mic received worldwide attention for her passionate reflections on Hillary as a role model for future generations. Cheryl Lankford’s revelations that Trump University “cheated” her out of insurance money following her husband’s death in Baghdad could also prove particularly persuasive for undecided voters. And the DNC had its fair share of celeb endorsement too; Meryl Streep, Sarah Silverman andElizabeth Banks all featured.
#6: Were There Any Issues That Arose During the Conventions?
The Plagiarism
The biggest controversy at the RNC surrounded the speech made by Donald Trump’s wife Melania, on the first day of the event. Melania’s words were enthusiastically applauded at the time, but several lines were subsequently found to have been lifted from a speech delivered by Michelle Obama at the 2008 Democratic National convention. Reactions to the supposed plagiarism were mixed; a Trump staffer took the blame, but Trump himself posted a tweet that that essentially declared all publicity is good publicity. At the DNC, the most pressing issue for the Clinton camp came from supporters of her one-time rival, Bernie Sanders. When Sanders delivered his endorsement of Hillary, there were widespread boos in the hall, as many Democrats believed that Bernie was unfairly forced out of the reckoning to become party leader.
#5: Which Convention Pulled Bigger Audiences?
The Ratings
In the ratings war, the DNC came out on top with more people watching the Democrats than the Republicans on average. Viewing figures for the first, second and third nights of the Democrat convention beat the respective nights at the RNC, but figures for the final night are a lot more even – with reports suggesting that Donald Trump’s official acceptance speech was watched by more people than the corresponding speech made by Hillary Clinton. According to Fortune, the DNC averaged 29.2 million viewers over four nights while the RNC pulled in 25.2 million; however, only 33.3 million people watched Clinton on final night, compared to 34.9 million for Trump.
#4: What Were the Major Differences Between the Two Conventions?
The Tone
Often, throughout history, the party conventions have proven reasonably similar to one another, with presumptive leaders divided over specific so-called ‘hot topics’. In 2016 though, some important social issues went almost entirely under the radar as each party set out its stall. When analyzing the tone taken at each convention, the Washington Post was even led to ask “Are the RNC and DNC talking about the same country?” For Donald Trump, law and order was placed high on the agenda, with references made to terrorism, illegal immigrants and crime. The rhetoric out of the DNC was much softer and calmer, however, with emphasis placed on togetherness, diversity and compassion. Democratic delegate Karla Stoebig seemed to summarize the two options being thrust at the American public; while she conceded that ‘fear is a strong motivator’, she hoped that ‘love is a better plan’.
#3: Who Are the Major Supporters of Donald Trump?
The Conservatives
As well as those who made an appearance at the RNC, Donald Trump’s celebrity endorsements include Dennis Rodman, Kid Rock, Mike Tyson and Azealia Banks. Charlie Sheen has shown support too, although he has also previously described the Republican leader as ‘a shame pile of idiocy’ on Twitter. Trump has seemingly found political endorsements a little more difficult to come by though. Former Vice Presidents Dick Cheney and Dan Quayle are behind him, while the decorated ex-CIA officer Gary Berntsen and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld also back Trump. The Republican leader has also been endorsed by at least 35 current US senators.
#2: Who Are the Major Supporters of Hillary Clinton?
The Establishment
In terms of celebrities, Hillary Clinton has been backed by the likes of Robert De Niro, Beyonce, Amy Schumer and George and Amal Clooney – to name a few. The former Secretary of State also has strong backing from the White House itself with Barack and Michelle Obama, and a number of important politicians are in her corner. Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Al Gore are all behind her, and at least 45 current US Senators have officially endorsed her. Hillary also made surprising headway with the press shortly after the DNC; on July 30th, the typically Republican Houston Chronicle issued its support for the Democrat leader.
#1: Which Convention Came Out on Top?
The Outcome
While the viewing figures suggest that there was more public interest in the DNC, the final night numbers seem to prove that the Republicans’ trump card is Trump himself. The conventions served as a launch pad for the presidential campaigns for both parties, and while they weren’t without their hiccups neither camp is likely to be too disappointed with the general outcome. The Republicans had to swerve some difficult questions after their would-be First Lady’s speech, but Donald Trump was still the most-watched figure across both events. The Democrats had to overcome inter-party issues after pro-Bernie Sanders protests, but Hillary Clinton still emerged looking strong, and seemingly in control. As the race for the White House narrows down to two official runners, the conventions gave us a glimpse of how the months leading up to the U.S. presidential election would enfold.
Did these facts get you thinking? To vote for which news story is covered next head over to WatchMojo.com/suggest, and be sure to hit that subscribe button for more newsworthy top tens published every week!
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