1996 United States presidential election

The **1996 United States presidential election** happened on November 5, 1996. Bill Clinton, the incumbent president and Democratic candidate, won reelection. He defeated Bob Dole, the Republican candidate, who was the former Senator of Kansas for president, and Ross Perot, the Reform Party candidate, who was a businessman. 

Perot received less media attention and was not included in the presidential debates and, while still getting large results for a third-party candidate, by U.S. standards, did not renew his success in the 1992 election.

Clinton benefited from an economy that recovered from the early 1990s recession, and a relatively stable world stage. On November 5, 1996, President Clinton went on to win re-election by a substantial popular vote margin with a large electoral college victory.

## Election statistics
President Clinton went on to win re-election relatively easily despite becoming the first sitting president since Woodrow Wilson in 1916 to do so with under 50% of the National Vote (49%), while winning enough states to earn him 379 electoral votes. Senator Bob Dole from Kansas ran for the Republicans and was at the mercy of peaceful overseas relations and a thriving economy. He gained (41%) of the vote while winning enough states to win 159 electoral votes. The GOP did well in the congressional races however thus effectively positioning themselves for the 1998 midterms and the subsequent 2000 race for the White House.

## Candidates 
### Democratic Party 
#### Nominees 
#### Candidates: 
* Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001) *(Nominee)*
* Jimmy Griffin, former mayor of Buffalo from New York (1978-1993)
* Lyndon LaRouche, activist and perennial candidate from Virginia 

File:James D. Griffin at Groundbreaking of Pilot Field (now Sahlen Field), July 1986 (cropped).jpg|
File:Lyndon LaRouche (cropped).jpg|

### Republican Party
#### Nominees
* Bob Dole, US Senator from Kansas (1969-1996) and 1976 vice presidential nominee *(Nominee)*
* Pat Buchanan, former White House Communications Director from Virginia (1985-1987) 
* Steve Forbes, newspaper and magazine publisher from New Jersey (1990-present)
* Lamar Alexander, former Governor of Tennessee (1979-1987) and former US Secretary of Education (1991-1993)
* Richard Lugar, US Senator from Indiana (1977–2013)
* Phil Gramm, US Senator from Texas (1985–2002)
* Alan Keyes, former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1985-1987) from Maryland
* Bob Dornan, U.S. representative from California (1977-1983, 1985-1997)
* Arlen Specter, US Senator from Pennsylvania (1981-2011)
* Pete Wilson, Governor of California (1991-1999)

### Withdrawn candidates 
### Candidates gallery 

File:Robert_J._Dole_signed_autograph_(cropped_2).jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_J._Dole_signed_autograph_(cropped_2).jpg|alt=Senator (then former senator) Bob Dole from Kansas|
File:Patrickjbuchanan.JPG|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Patrickjbuchanan.JPG|alt=Conservative columnistPat Buchananfrom Virginia|
File:Steve_Forbes.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Forbes.jpg|alt=Newspaper and magazine publisherSteve Forbesfrom New York|
File:Lamar_Alexander_2.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lamar_Alexander_2.jpg|alt=Former GovernorLamar Alexanderof Tennessee|
File:Alan_Keyes_(1).jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alan_Keyes_(1).jpg|alt=Former U.S. ECOSOC AmbassadorAlan Keyes from Maryland|
File:Dick_Lugar_official_photo.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dick_Lugar_official_photo.jpg|alt=SenatorRichard Lugarfrom Indiana|
File:PhilGramm_(1).jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PhilGramm_(1).jpg|alt=SenatorPhil Grammfrom Texas|
File:RobertDornan.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RobertDornan.jpg|alt=RepresentativeBob Dornanfrom California|
File:Arlen_Specter_official_portrait.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arlen_Specter_official_portrait.jpg|alt=SenatorArlen Specterfrom Pennsylvania|
File:Pete_Wilson_meeting_with_Les_Aspin,_Feb_3,_1993_-_cropped_to_Wilson.JPEG|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pete_Wilson_meeting_with_Les_Aspin,_Feb_3,_1993_-_cropped_to_Wilson.JPEG|alt=GovernorPete Wilsonof California|

### Reform Party
#### Nominees
* Ross Perot, founder of the Reform Party and 1992 Independent nominee for President of the United States *(Nominee)*
* Richard Lamm, former Governor of Colorado (1975-1987)

### Candidates gallery 

File:RossPerotColor.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RossPerotColor.jpg|alt=|
File:Richard Lamm.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_Lamm.jpg|alt=|

## References 
## Other websites