If the leaders of a President's own party conclude that the allegations against him have merit, however, the illusion that a scandal has partisan roots is ripped away. If President Clinton is unable to do this, Democratic leaders will face a test that pits their loyalty to their party against the need for the nation's top official to be a person of integrity. During Watergate, Republicans faced the same test. Republican Senate leader Hugh Scott, GOP Congressional leader John Rhodes, future Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker and former GOP presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, among others, all publicly concluded that restoring the public's trust in the presidency was more important than protecting the Republican Party. Happily for Democrats, if they conclude that perjury was committed and that perjury is not an acceptable activity for the nation's top official, the political repercussions for Democrats would probably not be as bad as those the GOP suffered in 1974.
Incumbents have a significant advantage over challengers.
If Clinton resigns, the nearly non-stop scandal coverage focusing on leading Democrats will ease. Al Gore could be vexed by the Justice Department's investigation of the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign's fundraising, but probably less so than both Clinton and Gore would be if Clinton were to remain in office. If Clinton resigns, President Gore will have the opportunity to fight for issues Democrats believe in instead of being distracted, as Clinton is, by legal woes. A political party fighting for policy goals appeals to voters more than a party defending an individual. If Clinton resigns, Gore would fight for Clinton-like policies without the burden of scandal that causes Clinton to avoid the media and distracts him from lobbying on Capitol Hill.