Hello and welcome to another edition of the presidential election series. Today, we’ll be discussing the Election of 1996, which featured another three-way race for the White House. President Clinton faced off against Ross Perot once again and the GOP’s Bob Dole. Let’s dive in!
Bill Clinton’s Presidency
After defeating George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot in the Election of 1992, President Bill Clinton focused on key issues like healthcare, criminal justice, LGBTQ+ military service, and the economy. He also navigated foreign conflicts as the first post-Cold War Commander-in-Chief.
Clinton achieved some notable legislative successes, including the Omnibus Crime Bill, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. However, these actions remain controversial. Critics argue they contributed to harsh prison sentences, systematic racism, and job losses in the Midwest due to job outsourcing.
Compounding these challenges were the failures of the Clinton-Hillary health care reform efforts in 1993. Their plan faced strong opposition from conservatives and the insurance and medical industries, culminating in a significant loss for Democrats in the 1994 midterm elections, a shift often referred to as the “Republican Revolution of 1994.” Despite these setbacks, Clinton’s economic policies, including the 1993 Budget Reconciliation Act, provided tax cuts to low-income families and small businesses. The improved economy made Clinton and Al Gore strong contenders for re-nomination in the Election of 1996.
Bob Dole: The Experience Candidate
With Republicans now in control of Congress, there was a strong belief within the GOP that they could regain the White House. Several candidates vied for the nomination, including Pat Buchanan, Steve Forbes, and Bob Dole, the Kansas native and Senate Majority Leader.
Steve Forbes ran on a flat income tax platform but struggled to gain significant momentum. Pat Buchanan initially performed well, winning the New Hampshire Primary and several other states. However, Bob Dole, despite this being his third presidential run, was viewed as a more moderate option compared to Buchanan and Forbes. By the Republican National Convention, Dole secured the GOP nomination with Jack Kemp, a former football player and U.S. Representative, as his running mate. Kemp was selected partly to prevent libertarians and paleoconservatives like Buchanan from bolting to third-party runs.
Perot Is Back!
Following his strong popular vote performance but lack of electoral votes in the Election of 1992, Ross Perot returned in 1996 as a third-party candidate under the newly formed Reform Party. This new party was created as an alternative to the traditional Democratic and Republican options, reflecting many of Perot’s policy ideas.
Although initially reluctant to run, Perot decided to enter the race when the Federal Election Commission announced that the Reform Party would receive federal campaign funds if he ran. Perot won the Reform Party nomination with economist Pat Choate as his running mate.
However, Perot’s campaign was hindered when the Commission on Presidential Debates altered its rules, preventing him from participating in the debates. This move significantly impacted his poll numbers, highlighting the challenges third-party candidates face in the American political system.
The Campaigns
With Perot’s influence diminished, Bill Clinton led in the polls for most of the Election of 1996. Clinton successfully tied Bob Dole to the unpopular GOP Congress and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who were blamed for a 1995 government shutdown and a controversial conservative health care plan called “The Contract with America.”
Clinton’s strategy, known as “triangulation,” allowed him to present himself as a centrist who embraced both Democratic and Republican ideas. His campaign slogan, “Bridge to the Future,” contrasted with Dole’s “Bridge to the Past,” avoiding direct attacks on Dole’s age while questioning the relevance of his ideas.
Dole struggled to connect with younger voters and often appeared out of touch, which was exacerbated by incidents such as falling off a stage and referring to the Los Angeles Dodgers as the “Brooklyn Dodgers.” Despite a brief boost in the polls after stepping down as Senate Majority Leader and his debate performances, Clinton was seen as the likely winner as Election Day approached.
The Results
The Election of 1996 concluded with Bill Clinton winning re-election decisively. He carried 31 states and D.C., earning 379 electoral votes and 49.2% of the popular vote. Clinton became the first Democrat to win re-election since Franklin D. Roosevelt and the youngest president to be re-elected at 50 years old.
Bob Dole secured 19 states, 159 electoral votes, and 40.7% of the popular vote. After the election, Dole retired from politics, focusing on writing and TV before passing away on December 5, 2021, at 98.
Ross Perot finished third with no electoral votes and 8.4% of the popular vote, a disappointing result for his Reform Party. Perot later sued the Commission on Presidential Debates, but the lawsuit did not lead to significant changes. Perot passed away on July 9, 2019, at 89.
And that wraps up the Election of 1996. Bill Clinton’s re-election set the stage for new economic and political developments as the new millennium approached. Stay tuned for our next edition, where we’ll explore the next pivotal election.
