Factors leading to defeat of G.H.W.Bush

[DesEtoiles]

The tail end of the late 1980s recession, that had dogged most of Bush's term in office, was a contributing factor to his defeat in the 1992 Presidential election. Several other factors were key in his defeat, including siding with Congressional Democrats in 1990 to raise taxes despite his famous "Read my lips: No new taxes" pledge not to institute any new taxes. In doing so, Bush alienated many members of his conservative base, losing their support for his re-election. Another major factor, which may have helped Bill Clinton defeat Bush in the 1992 election was the candidacy of Ross Perot. Perot won 19% of the popular vote, and Clinton, still a largely unknown quantity in American politics, won the election.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush


1. Recession

2. Taxes.

3. Spoiler candidate.

_____


Let's swap "gas prices" for "taxes" and we have a strategy against the GOP.

[wli]

1. any likely spoiler candidates? n/t

[jsamuel]

2. McCain running as independent?

[ClassWarrior]

7. Cartoon McCain won't be W**'s spoiler... He likes the taste of W**'s...

...butt too much.

We need to prop up somebody like Pat Buchanan or Roy Moore to peel away the bat-shit crazies of the RW.

NGU.

[bluestateguy]

3. Clinton still wins without Perot

Maybe he doesn't win by quite as much, but every political science analysis of the 1992 election shows that Clinton still wins without Perot in the race. Of those Perot voters who would have voted at all, Bush only wins slightly more than Clinton does.

The point about taxes is more plausible, though I still think Bush made the right decision to break a promise that never should have been made in the first place.

[SoCalDem]

4. He was a cold fish, and people didn't like him

Charismatic candidates always do better than milquetoast candidates..Clinton was young and charismatic..and Perot was a bit of a geezer, but he too was charismatic.. GHWB was toast regardless..

[Tace]

5. I Think Bush's Choice Of Quail For VP Was A Negative Factor, Too

Really bad choice.

[kentuck]

6. I think there was a "fear factor" also......

Many Repubs feared where their Party was headed. The high deficits of Bush had never been seen to that degree. Many Repubs were afraid to be connected with what might have happened with 4 more years of GHWB. However, they seem to have now gotten over that phobia.

[leeroysphitz]

8. they seem to have now gotten over that phobia.

In Spades.