The 2000 US Presidential Election

In Context: The newly elected President would be replacing the controversial, yet popular, Bill Clinton. Clinton had carried out 2 terms as President, overseeing economic growth, while overcoming scandal in his own personal life and an impeachment process.

In Context Cont.: SenateCongress Congress number YearsTotalDemsRepsTotalDemsRepsVacant 102 nd ‘91-’ rd ‘93-’ th ‘95-’ th 97’ Democrat Presidents since 1945GOP Presidents since 1945 TrumanEisenhower KennedyNixon L.B JohnsonFord CarterReagan ClintonG.W.H Bush

Candidates: Bush Educated at Yale and Harvard. Raised in oil/money in a business and political background. Worked for the Texas National Guard. Born again Christian. Governor for Texas. Political Family

Candidates: Gore Raised with a political background. Educated at Harvard and Vanderbilt. Served for the Military in Vietnam despite being against it. Spent time as Congressman and Senator. Acted as Clinton’s Vice-President

The Candidates Cont.: Other competition for the Presidency came from nominations by other American parties such as the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party and the Reform Party. However the most affective nominee from a smaller party was Ralph Nader of the Green Party who did garner some relatively serious support.

Issues: As is normal during elections with economic upturn, social issues and foreign policy dominated the political scenes. These included: Welfare Reform; Education; Gun Legislation and; Abortion. The main economic issue considered was spending the projected surplus in the budget. This may not have been considered in the 2012 election campaign.

IssueBushGore Taxation and the Economy Return Budget Surplus to the taxpayers; encourage entrepreneurs; Reduce state regulation of the private sector Focus on eliminating national debt by 2012; target tax cuts; create 10 million new hi-tech, high skilled jobs. Welfare Reform Backs welfare time limits; tax incentives for charitable donations; Federal funds for “Faith-Based” armies of compassion. Continue the Welfare to Work policy; higher penalties for fathers withholding child support; “Harness the power of faith based volunteers.” Gun Law Raise minimum age for hand gun ownership to 21; increase spending on gun law enforcement; against mandatory license but in favor of compulsory background checks. Raise minimum age for hand gun ownership to 21; photo-licenses required for ownership; registered purchases and sales limits. Abortion Ban partial-birth abortions; provide legal protection for fetuses; pro-life unless it is rape, incest or to protect a mother. Ban partial-birth abortions unless the mother is at risk; pro-choice; in favor of Medicare funded abortions. Education $5bn literacy plan; vouchers for poor families in failing schools; more state power in testing and funding for failing schools 70,000 more teachers; no vouchers but increased testing of teachers; increased scrutiny of schools through extra testing.

Republican Primaries

Democrat Primaries

Campaigning: Funded equally with both spending about $67m Bush critical of the Clinton administration. Gore questions Bush’s experience. Gore distancing himself from scandal. Lack of incumbent influence.

The Ralph Nader Affect: Ralph Nader was the most popular of the 3 rd party contenders. Gore claimed that he and Nader were similar. Republicans attempted to split the liberal vote.

Pre-Election Polling: Popular Vote Electoral College Vote

Results Popular Vote Electoral College Votes Bush50,460, Gore51,003, Electoral College Vote Popular Vote

Results cont.:

Florida 2000: 7.50 pm- Some polls claiming that Gore had won Florida and therefore the election pm- With more votes being counted, the result went back to ‘undecided’ am- Bush was declared the winner with a lead of 100,000 votes and 85% of the votes counted am- Gore narrowed the vote to 2000 and withdrew his concession. Eventually Bush’s lead was cut to 900 and this led to a mandatory recount.

Bush v. Gore: The court action put in place to resolve the issue of the Presidency. It was in response to various lawsuits opened up by the candidates regarding ballot rigging and voter intimidation. Florida itself couldn’t choose a winner because of the closeness of the vote and recounts were difficult.

Bush v. Gore cont.: 3 rd judicial intervention First was Bush v. Palm Beach. Second was known as Bush v. Gore and prevented a recount. Bush v. Gore final ruling, 5:4 in favor of Bush.

Final Points: Political or Judicial Decision? Sabotage in Florida: Jed Bush, George’s brother was Governor of Florida. Kathleen Harris oversaw the review process in the states, and was associated with George Bush’s campaign in the election. Claims that voters were turned away. Unclear voter ballots. Polling stations closed early in Democrat areas.