ELECTION (1992)

Clinton's Political Party:	                Democratic Party

Clinton's Opponent(s):
GEORGE BUSH-		                          Republican Party
Ross Perot-			                                       Independent
Andre Marrou-		                            Libertarian Party

Election Facts:
The Democrats
        Bill Clinton defeated his opponents in most of the presidential primaries.  At the Democrats' convention, only Jerry Brown opposed Clinton's nomination.  (Brown was a former governor of California.  In 1976, he opposed JIMMY CARTER for the Democratic presidential nomination.)

        Clinton was nominated on the first ballot.  Albert Gore was nominated for vice president.

The Republicans
        President Bush was unopposed for renomination.  Vice President Quayle was also renominated.

Ross Perot
        Ross Perot is a Texas billionaire.  He entered the 1992 presidential campaign by way of a television talk show.  He appeared on the Larry King Show on the Cable News Network (CNN).  During the show, a caller suggested that Perot run for president.  He agreed to run if "the American people" asked him to.

        Shortly after the CNN television show, Perot declared his candidacy for president.  He promised to spend $100 million on a presidential campaign.  Then he put together a nonpartisan campaign organization.  It eventually became known as "United We Stand America."

The General Election Campaign
        When the fall campaign began, President Bush was the underdog.  He had been a national hero after the Gulf War.  But the economy soured.  So did the president's chance to win reelection.  The economy gave the Democrats an advantage.  They set out to break up the coalition that elected RONALD REAGAN.  Clinton and Gore ran as "new Democrats." (That meant they were not "free-spending" liberals.)  The Democrats campaign slogan was "Putting People First."

        But Clinton had problems as a candidate.  The Bush organization decided to run a "negative" campaign.  They attacked Clinton's character.  He was a soft target.  As a college student, he avoided military service during the Vietnam War.  He also participated in anti-war demonstrations.  In addition, during the primary season, a woman named Gennifer Flowers publicly claimed she once had an affair with Clinton.

        Perot was the wild-card in 1992.  He attracted press attention because he was a billionaire.  His simple manner and plain talk attracted political supporters.  But Perot stumbled badly.  He engaged in bizarre conduct.  He claimed to have secret information about almost everything.  He accused Republicans of conspiring to disrupt his daughters wedding.  (It appeared to be a calculated attack.  Perot's supporters were mostly Republicans who were unhappy with the Bush administration.)

        Perot had never before faced the scrutiny of a political campaign.  He was unaccustomed to defending himself.  He fired his campaign staff.  He withdrew from the race.  But Perot apparently enjoyed the attention presidential candidates receive.  Within weeks, he was back in the race.  His name appeared on ballots in all 50 states.

        Bush, Clinton, and Perot met in televised debates.  (Perot was the first independent candidate ever to appear in a presidential debate.  Marrou was not invited to participate.)  After the debates, there was no clear winner.

        But the debates were useful.  Voters learned a lot about the candidates.  Bush was impatient with the entire process.  (He was seen looking at his watch.)  Clinton knew all the facts and figures.  Perot saw most things in a fairly simple light.

The Election Results
        Clinton defeated President Bush by nearly 6 million popular votes.  He won 370 electoral votes.  He carried 32 states and the District of Columbia.  Bush won 168 electoral votes and carried 18 states.  Perot won nearly 20 million votes.  He did not win any electoral votes.  Marrou won 291,000 votes.

BILL CLINTON'S VICE PRESIDENT(S)

FIRST ADMINISTRATION (1993-    )

Albert "Al" Gore, Jr., Tennessee
Vice President (1993-    )

Birth-			      1948
Profession-		Reporter
Offices-	     U.S. House representative (1976-1984);
			              U.S. senator (1984-1992).

Authored-		 Earth in the Balance

Other Facts-
        In 1992, Gore brought several assets to the Clinton ticket.  Gore served in the Vietnam War.  He is a southerner with a moderate record on civil rights and other social issues.  He had national campaign experience.  (Gore was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988.)

        Gore is also a high-technology enthusiast.  In the 1992 campaign, his interest in technology was an asset.  It fit well with Clinton's promise to prepare the United States for economic leadership in the 21st century.