In the lead-up to his New Hampshire primary victory, Senator Bernie Sanders boosted his public support by blasting Hillary Clinton’s lucrative ties to Wall Street.
This public concern over Clinton’s relationship with the financial industry speaks to more than the issue of campaign contributions. Average Americans are worrying today about the power and influence wealthy Americans, especially wealthy white males, have over the political class. Our political leaders themselves too often appear to be part of this same white male economic elite.
The 2016 presidential candidates may be more diverse by race, gender, and class than candidates in the past. But that’s not saying much. According to Forbes, six of the remaining 10 major contenders have fortunes worth at least $20 million. Trump, with his $4.5 billion stash, sits off the charts. Outside of Sanders and Senator Rubio, every candidate in the top tier has a personal fortune worth at least $3 million.
Source: Agustino Fontevecchia, “Forbes’ 2016 Presidential Candidate Wealth List.“