'Pokemon GO' 2016 Presidential Campaigns: Clinton, Trump Use App For Campaigns, Attacks [VIDEO]
Pokémon GO has become such a runaway hit that the augmented reality game has sparked discussions ranging from double standards among people of color playing the game to the titular pocket monsters being used for pro and anti-religious propaganda. On Thursday, however, Pokémon GO finally breached a place that few games have gone to before - U.S. politics.
Democratic bet Hillary Clinton has opted to strongly reference the popularity of Pokémon GO during her rally in Virginia on Thursday, joking that the app should be used to encourage people to go to the polls.
"I don't know who created 'Pokémon Go', but I'd try to figure out how to get them to have Pokemon go to the polls," she said.
As it turned out, the presidential candidate was really serious about her words. In an announcement, Sec. Hilary Clinton's campaign invited people of all ages to attend her rally at the Madison Park in Lakewood, Ohio on Saturday. Notably, the park is tagged in Pokémon GO as a Pokestop and a PokeGYM.
"Join us as we go to the Pokestop in Madison Park and put up a lure module, get free Pokemon, & battle each other while you register voters and learn more about Sec. Hillary Clinton!!!" the announcement stated.
It's not just the Democratic bet who has utilized the hyper-popular app in the presidential campaign. In an interview with The Washington Examiner on Thursday, Republican candidate Donald Trump referenced the game, even stating that if he had the time, he would be playing it too.
"I don't, but people are playing it. No question about it. I do not -- I wish I had time," Trump said.
Apart from the interview, Trump's campaign machine has also opted to parody Pokémon GO in one of its anti-Hillary videos. In the brief clip, the Democratic candidate was shown in a smartphone screen being captured like a Pokémon. Clinton's character was labeled as "Crooked Hillary," which is "often found lying to the American people, rigging the system, and sharing TOP SECRET emails."
Trump's camp seemed to know Pokémon well enough, too, even adding a brief text stating that the female candidate's evolution is "Unemployed."
