Dubya repeats myth that Perot caused Poppy Bush to lose to Clinton

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Former President George W Bush told Face the Nation’s Bob Schieffer Sunday morning that his father almost didn’t run for reelection in 1992 due to son Neil Bush’s role in the Savings & Loan scandal, but that he likely would have won were it not for third party candidate Ross Perot.

“I can’t prove it. It’s all conjecture, of course,” 41 said. “But it would ultimately have been a clear choice between a guy who had a very good first term and an untested governor.”

Bush added that his father’s ’92 defeat toughened him up for his own terms.

“Ironically enough it did make it easier for me,” Bush said. “When people criticize my dad, somebody who I admire greatly, I didn’t react well at times. It really, really affected me. When they criticized me, the sting wasn’t nearly as difficult. Being his son during his presidency created a layer of asbestos.”

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/george-w-bush-my-dad-would-have-won-in-92-if-not-for-ross-perot/

It's a tired old lie, pushed by the right to delegitimize Clinton's win. But a check of polls will chow that Bush was behind Clinton from June forward, and even the GOP convention didn't help him in the polls. When Perot re-entered the race in September, it actually tightened the polls and cut into Clinton's lead.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Maybe somebody could find the polls from that year.

When Perot dropped out of the race before re-entering it Clinton opened up a twenty point lead. Also, you need to factor in that 63% of Americans voted against the incumbent in that race. It's fanciful to believe Clinton couldn't get 80% of it.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. Poppy's approval was in the low 30s in 1992

as per Gallup. Something the revisionists conveniently forget.

[tritsofme]

2. Exit polls at the time also showed Perot voters would split pretty evenly between Clinton and Bush

Bush's approval ratings were consistent with a president not headed for reelection, he wouldn't have been more successful had Perot not been in the race.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. i should have pointed to those./NT

[StevieM]

13. And it was only on Election Day that he even took equally from the two. Prior to that the polls

clearly showed him taking more votes from Clinton than from Bush. It was the same way with Dole in 1996.

[Scootaloo]

5. Sure it wasn't Nader? n/t

[adirondacker]

10. ! The Ross Perot Ralph Nader Conspiracy Theory of the 90's. Someone should write a book.

[tontonmacoute]

6. Complete right wing fantasy...

Exit Poll Data and the Perot Voteb
Now, let’s briefly consider the 1992 exit poll data and the actual composition of the Perot vote. According to the exit poll data, 38% of the Perot voters said they would have voted for Clinton in a two way race, 38% would have voted for Bush, 24% would not have voted.
-snip-
It is just possible that Perot cost Bush a state here or there where Clinton squeezed out a very narrow plurality (Colorado, Montana, Ohio and Georgia come to mind as possibilities), but there is no empirical evidence that documents this that I am aware of. Even if true for all four states (a very unlikely probability), it merely reduces Clinton’s electoral vote majority from a near landslide to very comfortable.

http://www.pollingreport.com/hibbitts1202.htm

[blkmusclmachine]

7. I lived in Austin, TX then and voted for Perot. No way did Bush "lose" my vote, you f/cking liar GWB

[TexasProgresive]

8. One thing that turned a lot of people from bush

was being clueless about upc codes and scanners in a grocery store.

[rock]

9. Created a layer of ass- what?

[Johnyawl]

11. GWB's on crack...

"...would ultimately have been a clear choice between a guy who had a very good first term and an untested governor.”

A very good first term?? bwahahaha What was that sign that Snakehead posted at Clinton Hdqtrs? "It's the economy, stupid!" We were in the middle of a recession and GHWB didn't have a clue as to what to do about it, and was rightfully perceived by the country as doing nothing.

[ryan_cats]

12. I find it hard to believe that the word, conjecture, is in his Lexicon

I find it hard to believe that the word, conjecture, is in his Lexicon, it has too many syllable thingies.

[jmowreader]

14. Speaking of guys who had good previous terms and untested governors, let's look at the 2000 election