2000 United States Presidential Election (Nixon Retires)

The **2000 United States presidential election** was the 54th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000. The Republican ticket of Incumbent Alabama Governor Condoleezza Rice and Texas Governor George W. Bush defeated the Democratic ticket of Incumbent Vice President John Kerry and California Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Inconsistencies with the economy plagued Bill Clinton's second term, and his approval polls dropped slightly, they would drop further when rumors of a sexual affair he was having spread, though the rumors would die down.

Because of Clinton's inconsistent second term, the frontrunner, Vice President John Kerry would have a more difficult then expected run to win the nomination, facing tough challenges from former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley. He would win, and named California Senator Dianne Feinstein as his running mate.

Meanwhile on the Republican side, the two main frontrunners were Arizona Senator John McCain and Texas Governor George W. Bush. However, in a shocking upset, Dark Horse candidate and Alabama Governor Condoleezza Rice would win the nomination, and named Bush as her running mate.

Rice would criticize the Clinton administration for not being able to hold the economy together during his second term, and felt Kerry was too stereotypical of a Massachusetts liberal to find success in the White House. Kerry would deem Rice unfit at the moment to be President, due to her lack of experience, and felt he would be able to guide America better.

The election was very close, however, with key wins in the south and New Hampshire, Rice would narrowly beat Kerry, becoming the first female and African American President in the history of the US.

The main issues were the economy in Clinton's second term, domestic issues, and foreign policy.

## Primaries:

### Democratic Primaries:

Because of Clinton's initial success despite his inconsistent second term, Kerry was still highly viewed by American people. And despite facing troubles from former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley in the primaries, he would win the nomination, and named California Senator Dianne Feinstein as his running mate.

 John Kerry

### Republican Primaries:

At the start of the 2000 primaries, the two Republican frontrunners were thought to be Arizona Senator John McCain, and Texas Governor George W. Bush. But instead of one of the two, Alabama Governor Condoleezza Rice won in a major upset. She would become the first female to win Presidential nomination in one of the major parties. She would name Bush as her running mate.

 Condoleezza Rice

## Campaign/Issues Unique to the Election:

### Democratic Campaign:

Kerry would repeatedly claim that both Rice's and Bush's inexperience at that point would be dangerous to America's structure that he and Clinton built at the turn of the millennium, while promising to build on the economy.

### Republican Campaign:

Rice said Kerry's eyeing of experience was hypocritical, as Feinstein had barely any major experience before being elected Senator, while saying Kerry and Feinstein only cared about paving the bottom line, while she would fight for the American people, and not just a certain few selected by liberals.

### The Economy:

The economy from 1997-1999 had many peaks and valleys. Kerry knew the economy had been inconsistent, but that Rice's different style would harm the economy further instead of help. Rice felt Kerry was hiding true facts of the economy from the public, as she said in the second debate, "Vice President, stop hiding facts. America is not going to bamboozled by the ideas you ignore and hide."

### Domestic Issues:

Under Clinton, taxes had been increased slightly. Rice felt Kerry was taking advantage of the less fortunate when he said he would further increase taxes as President. Rice also had plans to have less money spent on the budget.

### Foreign Policy:

The last few years had seen the Gulf War occur and Rice felt the US needed a stronger presence overseas to keep an eye on eventual threats. Kerry deemed that as dangerous to those who may not even know about an nation and said diplomacy mattered more.

## Results and Aftermath:

In a very close election, eyes were on the southern states, noted for being historically racist but growing in conservatism outside of the two terms of Clinton. Thankfully for the Republicans, the south came through, as Rice would easily win the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and the Carolinas, while also winning narrowly in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida. Kerry called for a recount in Florida, but the recount would only add votes to Rice.

After that, Kerry seceded, and Rice would be sworn in as the first female and African American President on January 20, 2001.