Trump impeachment won't guarantee Democrats the keys to White House

Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi (Image: Business Insider)

I want to talk about the election. No, not that one. That one will wait for another week or two for my analysis, literally. Believe it or not, we are almost exactly a year away until the US general election, and it's set to be as much of a blockbuster as we saw in 2016.

Donald Trump has been the President of the United States for almost three now and his tenure at the White House is as eventful as the thrill seekers were hoping. It's almost refreshing to see someone vying for ultimate leadership be consistent before and after an election. Whether it is his outrageous tweeting, the surprise sacking of close associates - most recently his National Security Advisor, John Bolton was the latest victim - or saying absolutely anything that would make him feel better, such as taking credit for the death of Islamic State's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; we've seen these from him from the time he became a household name. And anything he does, you'll guarantee the same reactions from people of shock, horror or delight - all of which he will crave to his dying day.

Of course, his Presidency could come to a drastic end, only months before he'll rally up his Russian friends - err, I mean his campaign team - to ensure he stays in Washington DC for another four years. It's been a year since the mid-term elections where Democrats took over control of the House of Representatives, and now appear to have found a way to enforce an impeachment order against Trump.

It didn't take long for potential evidence to emerge that could incriminate the President, a situation he brands a "witch-hunt". Explosive reports suggest that Trump went to the leaders of Ukraine and China, asking them to find evidence against former Vice-President, Joe Biden - one of the current Democrat frontrunners to face him next year - and his family's potential business dealings in those countries during his state visits. The Democrats, largely thanks to the influential Representatives' Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, have pounced on the opportunity to try and oust him, arguing illegalities around this.

Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping (Image: CNN.com)

Regardless of whether the Democrats will succeed in pushing Trump out of the White House or not, that is just half of the battle. The other part is to actually elect a candidate that has the capability of beating Trump, or a Republican alternative. You see, Trump continues to be a dividing figure, and his 'America first' strategy makes him look good to his faithful supporters, to which there are many. The tariffs he has imposed on China and Europe, the crippling sanctions on Iran, diplomatic battles with the UK and his insistence on building that infamous wall on Mexican border are music to the ears of previously disengaged voters. These points are what the eventual Democrat candidate should avoid in order to win an election. It's the economy and manufacturing industry they should hold Trump to account for, both of which are slowing since his controversial tax-cutting policies came into full force.

The Democrats can achieve an election win next year but who the voters choose is critical. This person needs to match Trump's charisma (which while I think he has very little, it is enough for many to notice) and simplify their vision for the States to resonate with, something which I felt was the vital difference between Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016. The Party has enough candidates to choose from, as we have seen from the number of debates the American broadcasters are keen to showcase.

The frontrunners include Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Sanders was close to pipping Clinton over three years ago and has a big fan base. Joe Biden was a popular Vice-President but some fear he may have similar baggage to Clinton which could be his biggest drawback. Warren has climbed up the ranks to be one of the most recognised faces in US politics right now. If you follow her social media, she is enjoying all the attention and certainly oozes charm. In my mind, she has that right balance between being happy-go-lucky and having that killer instinct, a recipe that has already gotten Trump to quiver, calling her "Pocahontas" every now and then, in relation to her apparent Native American ancestry.

Sanders and Warren (Image: The New Yorker)

What the Democrats need to avoid is appear angry without substance and there are other candidates in the election race who have amazingly bright futures, like Kamala Harris and Julian Castro, but right at this moment, they'll be doing what Trump wants if they are to face him. He is cunning at trying to exploit weaknesses which don't exist, yet can convince others they do. It's important they keep the eyes on the prize - embrace celebrity endorsements but don't treat them like a game changer, don't attack Trump as if he is an idiot and most importantly, showcase what a great America can look like under Democratic leadership; combining both globalisation and positive nationalism in holy matrimony.

Will the attempt to have Trump impeached succeed? I won't hold my breath. But in the small chance that it does and Trump fails his multiple appeal attempts, the Republicans need to think of who their next darling will be. There are only so many times they can rely on Mitt Romney, who couldn't beat Barack Obama in the 2012 election. The problem they have is that not only Trump has won them over, but if he cannot succeed in next year's election, someone in that Party has to fill in his shoes, a difficult feat. Trump offered something that wasn't a tired formula the Republicans relied so much on with the Bush family, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. They wouldn't stand a chance in today's climate. Continue back to old habits, and Democrats will be laughing to the White House. The Republicans need Trump more than Trump needs the Republicans.