1996 United States Presidential Election (Season IV)

The **1996 United States Presidential election** was the 53rd quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican Hego Demask was ineligible for re-election. The Democratic Party rallied behind Sen. Christina Seo for the nomination, the only politician who's candidacy would not disrupt the delicate balance in the Senate, while Bradley Farrel chose not to run for the nomination. Two candidates emerged in the Republican primary; Sen. Duke Delgott from the Midwest, and championing the conservative wing. Rep. Howard Dean from the Northeast champions the liberal wing. The narrow primary with Dean emerging as the winner had lead to Delgott entering an independent run on the basis of conservative thought to combat Dean's more liberal policies.

During the campaign, Democrats focused on the divisiveness of the Republican and right-wing vote in-general, whilst Dean attempted to inject a more moderate message and Delgott's campaign attempted to sway the conservatives away from Dean. In the end, Seo emerged victorious with 278 electoral votes and a majority of the popular vote, as well as 25 of the 51 states, including Columbia's first presidential election. Dean emerged as the second-place winner by grabbing 176 electoral votes and 16 states. Delgott was third with only 9 states and 84 electoral votes.

Seo carried the entireity of the Pacific, and majority of the states in the Southwest and Southeast as well as the Blue Wall in the Midwest and the rust belt swing state of Michigan. Dean won far-western plains states, 3 states in the Southeast, and carried 3 of the 5 New England swing states. Dean also carried rust belt state Pennsylvania and Republican rock Wisconsin. Delgott won his home state, Indiana, and neighboring states Ohio and Illinois. Delgott won the plains states of North and South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska, as well as winning Colorado, Montana and Nevada.

## Primaries

### Democratic National Convention

With no major primary challengers, Christina Seo chose Seamus Roberts as Vice Presidential nominee.

Democratic Party Presidential Nominations, 1996

#### Declined to Run

* Carissa Cole, Senator from the Southeast
* Mark T. Kealoha, Senator from the Pacific
* Erwin Smith, Representative from the Southeast

### Republican National Convention

Republican Party Presidential Nominations, 1996

#### Republican Primary

The Republican Primary was a major area of contention, with Delgott and Dean hitting each other throughout the campaign. Dean's close win of the delelegates lead to a direct split of Duke from the presidential election into his own campaign.

#### Declined to Run

* Vice President Bradley Farrel
* Secretary of State Madeline Bloomberg
* House Majority Leader Anthony McDermott

## Results

### Close States

     Christina Seo

     Howard Dean

     Duke Delgott

States where the margin was less than 1% (77 electoral votes)

* **Michigan**, 0.14%
* **Kansas**, 0.15%
* **Pennsylvania**, 0.27%
* **Virginia**, 0.42%
* **Alabama**, 0.60%
* **Connecticut**, 0.97%

States where the margin was less than 5% (108 electoral votes)

* **Massachusetts**, 1.14%
* **Ohio**, 1.69%
* **North Carolina**, 1.76%
* **Nebraska**, 2.02%
* **Nevada**, 2.85%
* **Florida**, 2.97%
* **South Dakota**, 3.16%
* **Louisiana**, 4.56%
* **Kentucky**, 4.57%
* **Mississippi**, 4.93%

States where the margin was less than 10% (23 electoral votes)

* **New Hampshire**, 6.26%
* **Illinois**, 8.04%
* **Alaska**, 8.59%
* **Colorado**, 8.60%
* **Montana**, 9.21%
* **Maine**, 9.25%