U.S. Presidential Election 1996

The 1996 United States presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Liberal Party nominee defeated former Senate Majority Leader and Governor of Vermont Archibald J. Miller, the Federalist nominee, former Kentucky Governor George Clay, the Whig Party nominee, and Labor nominee Lyndon LaRouche. The 1996 is known as the "Race of the Renegades" due to its colorful cast of nominees. Every candidate in the race was opposed to NAFTA except for Christian Democrat Bob Casey Sr., showcasing that

## Election

### Background

The 1996 presidential election came at a time of relative stability and economic prosperity in the United States. Incumbent President James Michael Johnson, a Christian Democrat, did not seek re-election for a third term. This election offered an opportunity for candidates from various political parties to present alternative visions for the country's future.

### Candidates

1. Ross Perot (Liberal Party): Perot, a business magnate and political outsider, secured the nomination of the Liberal Party. Running as an independent candidate in the previous election, Perot had gained significant support with his focus on fiscal responsibility and opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created by Ronald Reagan, which was previously supported by Liberal candidates. In 1996, he continued to emphasize these issues while advocating for campaign finance reform and government transparency. Perot's running mate Al Gore was with the majority of Liberal politicians who supported NAFTA, leading to an amount of tension in the campaign.
2. Archibald J. Miller (Federalist Party): Miller, former Senate Majority leader and former governor, emerged as the Federalist Party's nominee once again. He continued to campaign on a non-Reagan platform centered around stronger government, lower taxes, staunch American nationalism, and economic protectionism. Miller positioned himself as a champion of conservative values and emphasized the importance of individual liberty alongside a strong Federal government.
3. George Clay (Whig Party): Clay, a respected statesman and former Senator and Governor of Kentucky, secured the nomination of the Whig Party. The Whig Party had not put forward a presidential candidate since 1936, and in most presidential elections since 1956 had endorsed the Liberal candidate. However, the charismatic former Governor Clay incited the Whigs to put forth a serious candidate to the Presidency. Although most Whigs in the various states where Whigs still held influence were staunchly economically and socially liberal, George Clay held to the old class of Whigs. During the campaign, he advocated for economic populism, advocating for measures to address income inequality, promote fair trade practices, and protect workers' rights. Clay's campaign focused on improving the welfare of the working class and reducing corporate influence in politics. Clay chose the liberal Whig Hillary Clinton of New York as his running mate to ensure that the liberal faction of Whigs were included.
4. Lyndon LaRouche (Labour Party): LaRouche, a controversial figure and perennial candidate, represented the Labour Party in the election. He held a range of unconventional and unorthodox positions, including support for a return to a gold standard, opposition to globalization, and the colonization of space.
5. Bob Casey Sr. (Christian Democratic Party): Casey, a former governor of Pennsylvania, ran as the nominee of the Christian Democratic Party. Casey advocated for social conservatism, including anti-abortion measures and increased support for families and traditional values while simultaneously supporting economic liberalism.