Politics & Government
Donald Trump More Authentic Than Clinton, Says Atlanta Leadership Expert
The Republican National Convention gets underway Monday in Cleveland, with the billionaire businessman on his way to the GOP nomination.

Atlanta, GA β As the Republican National Convention gets underway on Monday in Cleveland, an Atlanta workplace and leadership expert says Donald Trump is coming across as more authentic than Hillary Clinton.
βAuthenticity is the buzzword among millennials today,β said Brandon Smith, who also serves on the faculty at Emoryβs Goizueta Business School. βItβs the idea of realness that truly resonates with a lot of important demographics.β
Itβs that concept that gave rise not only to Trumpβs candidacy, but also that of Bernie Sanders, Clintonβs Democratic opposition for their partyβs White House nomination.
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βIn their own both unique ways, neither Trump or Sanders are overly measured in what they say and how they come across,β Smith said. βAnd thatβs gained them a lot more support than anyone ever thought.
βA year ago, who would have guessed that Trump would be sitting where he is today? No one.β
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Smith said Trump was wise to pick Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as a running mate over some other names being rumored as VP contenders, such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
βHad Trump picked Christie, it would have been a disaster,β Smith said. βIt would have competed with Trumpβs talking points, and my sense is, Trump wants to have the last word.β
With Clinton set to announce her vice presidential running mate soon, Smith said she needs to choose a quality candidate to add to her ticket.
βIf you look at Clinton right now, you might say she has more credibility given her time on office,β Smith said. βBut she doesnβt come across as vulnerable or authentic, so itβs critically important that she picks a running mate with those qualities.β
Image Credit: Donald Trump via the Trump Campaign, Mike Pence: official photo from governor's office
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