Why Did Bill Clinton Lose The 2000 Election

The 1990s began with the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton, George Bush and Ross Perot. The 2 questions we have to ask is how a sitting president with an 80% approval rating in 1990 lost the election 2 years later and what caused the right to left political shift. Republican’s seemed slightly lost after the Persian Gulf War and were leaning to a more conservation right. With no major foreign affairs to focus on all eyes were on the economy. George bush then uttered those 6 famous words “read my lips, no new taxes” and then promptly raised taxes. These 2 events raised concerns in many republicans who were uncommitted. Add a strong showing from Ross Perot and the 1992 election became a Bill Clinton landslide. Bill Clinton’s center shift from hard-core democrat, earned …show more content…
This lead to probably the most controversial election in American history. Americans learned more about the Electoral College and the Popular vote than they ever imagined prior. Americans learned that winning votes in the right place is more important than just winning votes. Voting in the right place became a big point of contention in the 2000 election as the state of Florida proved pivotal and just happened to be governed by George W Bush 's brother. Votes were recounted back and forth and then ultimately the Supreme Court ended the recounts and made the final decision that led to Bush winning the State of Florida which provided him enough electoral votes to win the election. Many people felt the Supreme Court basically awarded Bush the presidency. Five Supreme Court Justices voted for the series of events that led to Bush becoming president and four voted against. All 5 that voted in Bush’s favor were nominated by Republican presidents. So although Al Gore garnered over half a million more American votes Bush’s win in Florida, secured the presidency by 5 electoral