Biden vs Trump: Who has the most elite education background?

Will Donald Trump remain in the White House for another four years? With less than two months to go before America decides on November 3 at the 2020 US presidential election, campaigning is going full-steam ahead between Republican incumbent ​Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, along with their running mates. But what did these US presidential candidates study before stepping into the limelight? U2B takes a look: 

Donald Trump, Republican

The 45th US president is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance, something he’s very proud about, if he’s speeches are anything to go by. He had initially attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to Wharton to complete his undergraduate degree in economics. 

The real estate mogul has a portfolio including commercial buildings, golf properties and branding businesses worth an estimated US$3.66 billion before debt, reported Forbes. In a separate report, Forbes said the president’s commercial buildings remain his cash cows, but his golf course and club portfolio produced the biggest chunk of revenue, some US$753 million in three years.

Mike Pence, Republican

The current US vice president is also the 2020 vice-presidential running mate of Trump. Pence graduated with a BA in history from Hanover College (Indiana) in 1981 and earned his JD (Jurisprudence Degree) from Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 1986.

Pence was a former radio talk show host and had also served as governor of Indiana. In February, Pence became in charge of the US government response to COVID-19 amid growing criticism of the White House’s handling of the outbreak, reported CNN.

Joe Biden, Democrat

Biden is actually making his third bid as president. He first ran for president in 1988 and again in 2008. The former Delaware Senator also served as vice president to Barack Obama. 

According to his campaign page, Biden had enrolled at the University of Delaware where he double majored in history and political science, before going on to Syracuse University where he earned his law degree.

Biden is also known for his heartbreaking personal life. When he was 29, his wife and daughter were killed in an automobile accident. He raised his two sons as a single father for five years with the help of his sister and his family. His eldest son passed away from brain cancer in 2015.

Despite his heartwrenching history, will the third time be the charm for this US presidential candidate?

Kamala Harris, Democrat 

Biden’s 2020 vice-presidential running mate had a unique upbringing. According to Politico, as a child, Harris went to both a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple, embracing both her South Asian and Black identities (she has Jamaican and an Indian heritage). 

She attended middle school and high school in Montreal after her mom got a teaching job at McGill University and a position as a cancer researcher at Jewish General Hospital. She eventually  became the first Black woman to be elected district attorney in California history, first woman to be California’s attorney general, first Indian-American senator, and now, the first Black woman and first Asian American to be picked as a vice presidential running mate on a major-party ticket, said the report. 

Harris studied political science and economics at Howard University and also earned a law degree from Hastings College.