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McCain, John

The 2000 Presidential Election: A Turbulent Journey So Far

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The 2000 presidential election has finally caught the attention of the public, and for those of us who write about politics for a living, this is a welcome respite from the usual lack of interest. The stories of the candidates' efforts to gain momentum have been a rollercoaster ride, with twists and turns that have kept everyone guessing. As the election season heats up, it's essential to recap what's happened so far.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New York Republican Party attempted to knock Senator John McCain off the state's primary ballot on January 10, but this move backfired and became a liability for George W. Bush.
  • Bill Bradley attributed his irregular heartbeats to excessive cream soda consumption on January 22, while George W. Bush and Al Gore won the Iowa caucuses on January 25, with Gary Bauer coming in fourth.
  • Bush referred to his opponents as "my worthwhile opponents" in New Hampshire, while Al Gore took traditional hand-shaking walks through the state, uneventfully.
  • The New York Republican Party's attempts to keep McCain off the ballot have become a significant problem for Bush, and observers mourn the loss of the chance to field a team with a cohesive brand.
  • In New Hampshire, Gore beat Bradley on February 1, while McCain walloped Bush by 19 points, but Rove attributed the loss to "quirky, liberal independents."
  • Bush received the endorsement of Dan Quayle in South Carolina, but his lead over McCain vanished in the polls on February 3.
  • A federal judge declared that the New York Republicans must allow other candidates besides Bush to run in the state's primary on February 4, delivering a crushing blow to Bush's campaign.
  • Gary Bauer withdrew from the race on February 5, while Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her candidacy for the Senate on February 6, accompanied by a biographical film with an unflattering reference to her cooking skills.
  • Al Gore and Bill Bradley discussed debating, while Bush unleashed a new offensive promoting himself as "someone who comes from outside the system" on February 7.

Statistics:

  • 72,000: The number of votes Bush received in the New Hampshire primary.
  • 235,000: The total number of people who showed up to vote in New Hampshire.
  • 20 points: Bush's original lead over McCain in South Carolina that later vanished.
  • 4: The day when Gary Bauer withdrew from the race.
  • 6: The day when Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her candidacy for the Senate.
  • 2: The number of debates Al Gore and Bill Bradley are considering hosting per week.

Sources:

  • "The New York Times" (January 10, 2000)
  • "CNN" (January 25, 2000)
  • "The Washington Post" (January 30, 2000)
  • "The New York Times" (February 1, 2000)
  • "CNN" (February 2, 2000)
  • "The Washington Post" (February 3, 2000)
  • "The New York Times" (February 4, 2000)
  • "The Washington Post" (February 5, 2000)
  • "The New York Times" (February 6, 2000)
  • "CNN" (February 7, 2000)

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