U.S. presidential election, 1996

The U.S. presidential election of 1996 was a contest between incumbent President Bill Clinton and Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. Clinton benefitted from a good economy and a lack of credible foreign threats, and won the election handily over Dole, who was thought to have run a lackluster campaign.

Nominations

Republican Party nomination

A number of Republican candidates entered the field to challenge the seemingly weak incumbent William J. Clinton. The list included:

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• Lamar A. Alexander - Former governor of Tennessee
• Patrick J. Buchanan - television political commentator and former aide to President Richard M. Nixon
• Robert J. Dole - United States Senate majority leader from Kansas, Gerald Ford's 1976 vice-presidential nominee
• Robert K. Dornan - U.S. Representative from California
• Malcolm S. "Steve" Forbes Jr. - son of Malcolm Forbes and editor of Forbes Magazine
• W. Philip Gramm - U.S. senator from Texas
• Alan L. Keyes - radio commentator
• Richard G. Lugar - U.S. Senator from Indiana
• Arlen Specter - U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
• Morry Taylor - Ohio tire magnate

The fragmented field of candidates debated issues such as a flat tax and other tax cut proposals, and a return to supply-side economic policies popularized by Ronald Reagan. More attention was drawn to the race by the budget stalemate in 1995 between the Congress and the President, which caused temporary shutdowns and slowdowns in many areas of federal government service.

Related Topics:
Flat tax - Supply-side economic - Ronald Reagan

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Former U.S. Army Gen. Colin L. Powell was widely courted as a potential Republican nominee. However, on November 8, 1995, Powell announced that he would not seek the nomination.

Related Topics:
U.S. Army - Colin L. Powell - November 8 - 1995

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Going into the 1996 primary contest, Senate majority leader and former vice-presidential nominee Bob Dole was seen as the most likely winner. However, in the primaries and caucuses, social conservative Pat Buchanan received early victories in Louisiana and New Hampshire which put Dole's leadership in doubt. However, Dole won a string of victories, starting in South Carolina, which cemented his lead over his rivals. With the party nomination a lock, Dole resigned his Senate seat on June 11. The Republican National Convention formally nominated Dole on August 15, 1996 as the GOP candidate for the fall election. Former Congressman and Cabinet secretary Jack Kemp was nominated as Dole's running mate.

Related Topics:
Bob Dole - Pat Buchanan - Louisiana - New Hampshire - South Carolina - August 15 - 1996 - Jack Kemp

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Democratic Party nomination

The United States Democratic Party nomination process was very uneventful. Incumbent president Bill Clinton was nominated with only token opposition from other Democrats.

Related Topics:
United States Democratic Party - Bill Clinton

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Other nominations

The United States Green Party nominated Ralph Nader as its presidential candidate. Nader accepted the nomination, but vowed to spend only $5,000 in his election campaign.

Related Topics:
United States Green Party - Ralph Nader

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The United States Reform Party nominated party founder Ross Perot in its first election as an official political party. Although Perot easily won the nomination, his victory at the party's national convention led to a schism, as supporters of his opponent, former Governor Richard Lamm of Colorado, accused him of rigging the vote to prevent them from casting their ballots. This faction walked out of the national convention and eventually formed their own group, the American Reform Party.

Related Topics:
United States Reform Party - Ross Perot - Richard Lamm - Colorado - American Reform Party

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