Trump 08?

[GoTfan]

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Coming soon . . .

[Don Vito Corleone]

Sounds very interesting

[The Govanah Jake]

Yes Yes Yes

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Yes Yes Yes

Sounds very interesting

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

YAAS KING, SLAY

[GoTfan]

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-Donald Trump; January 11, 2007

The 2008 election, some may argue, began with Mike Gavel's announcement that he would seek the Democratic nomination in early 2006, two years before the election, but speculation would surround one man: Donald J Trump.

In the build-up to the primaries, Trump made several visits to Iowa, gave many politically-oriented interviews, and generally behaved like a prospective Presidential candidate, despite his repeated denials that he was thinking of running, as well as reports that he was going to support Senator Hillary Clinton. However, the quoted interview above shook the Democratic field, which had been thought to be largely settled by this point.

The real shock was still to come though.

As expected, Senator Clinton announced her campaign on January 20, and on February 10, she was joined by fellow juggernaut Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois. The two joined former Senator John Edwards as the main contenders for the Democratic nomination that year.

However, people kept asking the question, "Will Trump run?", And it was not a question with any concrete answer. When pressed on it, Trump would issue non-denials or change the subject. His time in the spotlight was beginning to frustrate the other Democratic candidates, who faced a struggle to stay in the news cycle.

A few days after Obama's announcement, it was revealed that Trump had not renewed his contract for The Apprentice, further fueling speculation about his potential candidacy. On June 16, 2007, he made his announcement.

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And just like that, it was off to the races.

[The Govanah Jake]

Trumpppppp

[Confused Democrat]

I have a feeling I'll like Trump in this TL.

[America Needs R'hllor]

I have a feeling I'll dislike Trump in this TL.

I like people who speak like adults and not 7-year-old children

[Confused Democrat]

I have a feeling I'll dislike Trump in this TL.

I like people who speak like adults and not 7-year-old children

He speaks more like a 70 year old man with dementia.

[GoTfan]

Trump with supporters in New Hampshire

Trump's entry shook the Democratic field. Suddenly, Clinton and Obama, the prospective frontrunners, found themselves under fire . . . From their left. That was probably the most unexpected part; most expected Trump, a man worth billions, to run a fairly conservative campaign in terms of economics. He did the exact opposite.

After one rally in New Hampshire, a leaflet with his main policy proposals was circulated among his supporters, and many were seen as policy masterstrokes by Trump. Known as his "5-point Plan to Make America Great Again", it consisted of five key economic policies seemingly tailor-made for the industrial states and younger, activist voters.

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Immediately, Trump's numbers spiked. They got even higher when he announced that his campaign war chest would either be self-funded or funded by small donations from supporters, and no one else. He also boosted his rural numbers when he promised to provide a stable internet connection to every household in the country through the creation of a publically-funded National Internet Network.

These proposals were red meat to Trump's base of blue-collar workers, young voters and liberal activists. Trump began making rounds in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana, as well as on college campuses in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Soon, it was time for the debates.