The campaign for president is becoming more and more entertaining (and bizarre), with the wives of two candidates, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, now taking the limelight.

Last week, Melania Trump was shown in a less-than-fully dressed 2000 British GQ photo. Heidi Cruz’s face was then portrayed in an obviously not-posed-for, unflattering photo.

I cannot help but see, during this race for the highest office in the nation, the connection between American showmen P.T. Barnum and Donald Trump.

Barnum, the founder of Barnum and Bailey Circus, was an author, publisher, businessman and politician.

He wrote several books including “Struggles and Triumphs” and “The Art of Money-Getting.”

Trump is an American businessman, author, entertainment personality and politician.

In 1987, Trump’s book, “Trump: The Art of the Deal,” was published.

Seems to me, the use of the phrase “the art” by both men is not simply a coincidence.

Barnum, a self-promoter, became even more well known with publication of his autobiography, “Life of P.T. Barnum.”

Trump has marketed his name on Trump University, Trump bottled water, the former Trump Magazine, Trump Chocolate and dozens of other Trump “whatevers.”

Barnum owned a general store and dabbled in real estate.

In 2007, “Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies” was printed.

A Republican, Barnum later became active in politics, advocating against laws attempting to restrict gambling.

Trump is president of The Trump Organization and founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, a gambling and hotel conglomerate.

Barnum served two terms in the Connecticut legislature, and in 1875, he was elected mayor of Bridgeport, Conn.

Trump, now a Republican, announced his run for president of the United States last June.

In the early 1850s, Barnum began investing and making loans to the Jerome Clock Company to develop East Bridgeport, Conn.

Six years later, the company went bankrupt, taking Barnum’s money with it.

Barnum then went on a lecture tour, raising enough money to emerge triumphant.

Trump had four corporate bankruptcies.

One involved Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, involving his three Atlantic City casinos.

Another occurred in 2009, when Trump and his daughter, Ivanka, resigned from the board of Trump Entertainment Resorts.

Less than a week later, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Trump is said to have received more than $1 million for presentations he gave to The Learning Annex and also for three speeches given at ACN International training events.

Trump made his foray into show business as co-producer of the 1970 Broadway show “Paris Is Out!” and, in 2003, he became executive producer and host of “The Apprentice.” He, along with the show’s other producers, was nominated for two Emmy Awards.

Trump also has participated in several WrestleMania events.

Barnum is said to have appealed to the public by using hype to successfully promote his circus and other enterprises.

I don’t know anyone who can say Trump is not today’s master of hype.

Voters need to remember “hype” and self-promotion do not necessarily make a qualified candidate for the highest office in the land, if not across the globe.

If Trump wins the presidential election, I fully expect to see elephants on the White House South Lawn instead of the annual Easter egg roll, clowns exiting en masse from MINI Coopers in the garden and WWE wrestlers grappling in the Oval Office.

Calm deliberation, rational thought and the ability to arrive at logical conclusions from the facts presented should be the requirements for the leader of the free world in this time of upheaval and terror.

Deb Palmieri

editor

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press