1. Taft & Wilsons Progressivism

2. The Taft Era 1908 Election – William H. Taft (R) v. William J. Bryan (D) – Taft had been TRs buddy. Easily wins – People want continuation of TR policies

3. Taft busts 90 trusts, but never gets credit for it. What do people remember? – 1st Pres. To throw out 1st pitch at baseball game – Fattest pres. Stuck in WH tub.

4. Republicans split; Taft supports corrupt Speaker of House - Progressives are furious! Progressive Republicans split off, form Bull Moose Party Want someone like TR for pres, so…

5. Election of 1912 Progressives: Teddy Roosevelt Republicans: William H. Taft Democrats: Woodrow Wilson – Which two candidates will likely be MOST similar?

6. The 3rd Party Truth A 3rd Party candidate CAN NOT win an election! – The 3rd Party will sip away votes from the major party it is most like – Add together the votes of the 2 candidates most alike, and their common ideas would win

7. 1912 Wilson: 6.2 million votes Taft:3.4 million votes Roosevelt:4.1 million – Taft + Roosevelt = 7.5 million – The candidate MOST Americans hate becomes President!

8. 1992 Clinton (D):44.9 million Bush (R ):39.1 million Perot (Ref):19.7 million – Bush + Perot: 58.8 million – Clinton slips in

9. 1996 Clinton (D):47.4 million Dole (R ):39.2 million Perot (Ref):8.6 million – Dole + Perot = 47.8 million – Clinton slips in

10. 2000 Bush (R ):50.3 million Gore (D):51.1 million Nader (Grn):2.9 million – Gore + Nader = 54 million – Bush slips in through Elec. Col.

11. 2004 Bush:62 million Kerry:59.1 million Nader:700,000 – Naders votes in OH, FL would have thrown Elec. Col. To Kerry