The purpose of this research paper is to determine how the Trump and Romney presidential campaigns incorporated the business successes of their respective candidates in their political messaging. It also seeks to identify in what ways, if any, were the two campaigns similar and different in leveraging their candidates’ entrepreneurial skills. This study primarily draws upon the announcement speeches made by both candidates, as well as multiple speeches that were made at their respective nominating conventions. Prior research conducted in the field of narrative psychology analysis was used as a guide in order to better examine the above mentioned exhibits. The findings revealed that Trump leveraged his entrepreneurial accomplishments a lot more than Romney. The campaign strategies that Trump and Romney implemented might have been partially influenced by their personal narratives. The discoveries in this study can possibly be used in future research that focuses on understanding how the American electorate responds to the narratives of political candidates.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Methods
3. Findings
4. Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. References
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this research paper is to examine how the 2012 Romney and 2016 Trump presidential campaigns integrated the business achievements of their respective candidates into their political communication. The study seeks to determine whether and how these campaigns differed in leveraging entrepreneurial skills to appeal to the American electorate.
- Analysis of narrative psychology in political campaign rhetoric.
- Comparison of candidacy announcement speeches and convention appearances.
- The role of personal narrative identities (self-regulation vs. self-exploration) in political strategy.
- Evaluation of how business successes were framed to influence voter perception.
- The impact of "outsider" status versus traditional political branding in electoral success.
Excerpt from the Book
Romney Believed in America While Trump Believed in Himself
The extent to which Trump and Romney would use their successes as businessmen appear to have differed right from the beginning. Trump, who for several decades had been described as a larger than life character, declared his candidacy in his flagship building in New York, “Trump Tower”. In keeping with traditional norms of having a new candidate being introduced to the electorate by a member of his family, Trump’s older daughter, Ivanka Trump presented him to the people. This is often done to help soften a candidate’s image. It also gives the electorate a different perspective that is usually hidden from the public eye.
Ivanka’s position was not just as the “daughter”. Her speech did not follow the usual pattern of speaking from the personal side, but rather she spoke to the many accomplishments that she had witnessed her father achieve while working closely with him in the family business. She notably stated that, “He [Trump] enjoyed success in a vast diversity of industries because the common denominator is him—his vision, his brilliance, his passion, his work ethic and his refusal to take no for an answer.” From the beginning, Trump wanted to send the message that the skills he had acquired from more than thirty years of deal making was exactly what the country desperately needed.
Trump’s speech was clearly not scripted or prepared. He spoke off the cuff, and this eventually became a trait that many of his devoted followers fell in love with. He “rambled” on a number of topics for more than an hour. It came across as though he spoke about the first thing that came to his mind at the time. Trump’s speech was blunt and clear: he would be the guy to fix America amidst economic uncertainty.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the contextual background of the 2016 election and establishes the research focus on how business careers function as political talking points.
Methods: Describes the narrative psychological analysis used to examine speech transcripts, biographical videos, and convention presentations.
Findings: Details the empirical observations regarding how Trump and Romney respectively utilized their entrepreneurial backgrounds, highlighting the contrast in their communication styles.
Discussion: Interprets the findings by categorizing the candidates' narratives into self-exploration and self-regulation archetypes.
Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings and suggests that modern American voters may be increasingly drawn to unconventional, outsider-driven political narratives.
References: Lists the academic and journalistic sources utilized for this analysis.
Keywords
narrative psychology, political campaigns, GOP, presidential elections, entrepreneurial skills, candidate messaging, Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, biographical analysis, political identity, voter perception, American electorate, self-exploration, self-regulation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The study investigates how presidential candidates Donald Trump and Mitt Romney integrated their private-sector business careers into their political campaign messaging and public narratives.
What are the central themes of the analysis?
The core themes include the use of narrative psychology to understand political branding, the contrast between traditional and unconventional campaigning, and the influence of personal background on public perception.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how these candidates leveraged their entrepreneurial experiences to qualify themselves for the presidency and to identify differences in their respective messaging strategies.
Which methodology is employed in the study?
The researcher conducts a qualitative narrative psychological analysis by examining transcripts of announcement speeches, nomination convention addresses, and promotional biographical videos.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the initial campaign announcements, the structure of political conventions, the impact of biographical narratives, and an analysis of acceptance speeches regarding business references.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include narrative psychology, political campaigns, GOP, presidential elections, and the specific narrative identities of self-regulation and self-exploration.
How does the author distinguish between Romney’s and Trump’s narrative approach?
The author identifies Romney’s narrative as rooted in "self-regulation"—a traditional, reserved approach—whereas Trump’s narrative is categorized as "self-exploration," characterized by a bold, unconventional desire to maximize his full potential.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding the effectiveness of these strategies?
The conclusion suggests that while Romney’s traditional approach sought to avoid risk, the electorate in the current era responded more favorably to the unconventional, "outsider" narrative presented by Trump.
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- Warren Cassell Jr. (Autor:in), 2017, The Tale of Two Wealthy Presidential Candidates. An Analysis into How Trump and Romney Used Their Successful Business Careers as Political Talking Points, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/371662
