Don’t call Chris Christie rich. The Clintons say they still have bills to pay. And Mike Huckabee? Despite his wealth, he was born “blue collar, not blue blood.”
Touting one’s humble beginnings has been part of US presidential contenders’ playbook going back to Abraham Lincoln’s talk of his log cabin youth. But the 2016 hopefuls are working harder than ever to convince voters they are just like them.
In burnishing their working- and middle-class credentials the hopefuls are following a shift in the political debate from jobs and a fragile economic recovery to one centred on income inequality.
That reflects a deepening sense that seven years after the Great Recession any gains have gone to the wealthy, while millions of Americans continue to struggle.
Many respondents in Reuters polls say a candidate’s wealth would influence how they vote.
With a crowded field - at least 12 Republican hopefuls have declared so far - even just a few percentage points could separate front runners from also rans, making it crucial to appeal to as many people as possible.
Thus the humble roots card from many candidates, even if most are still among the wealthiest Americans.
The wealthy are most vulnerable to criticism that they are out of touch not just because of their considerable personal wealth but also because of their association with powerful political families.
Hilary Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, was ridiculed when he said recently he would keep giving paid speeches as she runs for office to “pay our bills.” The couple have earned more than $25 million for speeches since 2014 alone.
Bush, the scion of a wealthy family, has earned millions since stepping down as governor, including $3.2 million in board fees and stock grants.
2016 candidates’ kick-off speeches tended to dwell on their own or their parents’ working-class backgrounds. But not all White House contenders feel they need to play down their wealth. Real estate mogul Donald Trump, by contrast, started off saying: “I’m really rich, I’ll tell you that.”
