October Surprises: Bush vs. Gore 2000
The 2000 Presidential election campaign presented some challenging strategic decisions for Democratic candidate and incumbent Vice-President Al Gore. On the one hand, Gore was campaigning on his party's record of surplus budgets, the first time this had occurred since just after the second world war. But he was also campaigning in the shadow of incumbent President Bill Clinton's impeachment and the sex scandal that led up to it. In the end, Gore decided to limit Clinton's involvement in his campaign, and when the election was over, many Monday morning political quarterbacks questioned this decision, not the least of which was Clinton himself.
The Republicans nominated Texas Governor George W. Bush, son of the man that Clinton had defeated in 1992. Bush not only inherited his father's base of support and vast network of political contacts; he was also viewed as a moderate and as someone whose personal life was above reproach and not prone to the type of scandals associated with Bill Clinton. Although Bush would later be attacked for some things from his past, such as allegations concerning his service in the National guard, he was considered to be above reproach and campaigned on a promise to restore the dignity of the Presidency.
The campaign focused mainly on domestic issues, such as the budget surplus, proposed reforms of Social Security and Medicare, health care, and competing plans for tax relief. Foreign policy was also an issue. Bush criticized the Clinton administration for its policies in Somalia, where 18 Americans died in 1993 on a peace-keeping mission trying to sort out warring factions, and in the Balkans as well, where United States troops were also playing a peace-keeping role. Bush said: "I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
Gore took the attack to Bush personally, questioning Bush's fitness for the job, pointing to gaffes made by Bush in interviews and speeches. Gore took great pains to avoid the Clinton scandals. He chose Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman as his running mate in an attempt to separate himself from Clinton's past. Lieberman had been one of the first senators to criticize Clinton for his moral failings. At the Democratic National Convention, Gore planted a passionate kiss on his wife to send the message that despite the allegations against Clinton, Gore was a faithful and loving husband. Gore avoided appearing with Clinton.
As the race drew close to the finish line, Bush led in the polls by 5% and many pundits predicted a change in the oval office from Democrat to Republican. Then came the October surprise. On the Thursday prior to the last weekend before the Tuesday election day (technically it was a "November surprise"), Thomas J. Connolly of Scarborough, Maine, a prominent defense attorney in the state and the 1998 Democratic candidate for governor, confirmed to a reporter for Fox News that Bush had been arrested for drunk driving in that state in 1976. Bush confirmed the report in a press conference moments after it was revealed.
Bush was candid in admitting the truth of the report. He said: "I have been straightforward with the people, saying that I used to drink too much in the past. I have been very candid about my past. I've said I've made mistakes in the past. People know that. They've thought about that. They're making their minds up now."
However Bush also questioned the timing of the revelation. He said: "I do find it interesting that it's come out four or five days before the election." He refused to name his top suspect, saying only, "I have my suspicions." The Gore campaign denied any involvement in either the announcement or its timing.
The officer who arrested Bush in 1976 was a man named Calvin Bridges. He said in a telephone interview that he recalled driving home from work after midnight and spotting a car slipping briefly onto the shoulder before getting back on the road. The driver turned out to be the future president, who failed a road sobriety test and a second test in the police station, registering a 0.10 blood-alcohol level. When asked how Bush behaved that night, Bridges said, "The man was, and I say this without being facetious, a picture of integrity. He gave no resistance. He was very cooperative."
Following is a YouTube video of Bush's remarks when he was first asked about the incident:
Click to viewBush's 5% lead evaporated into a virtual tie on election day, with the outcome of the election ultimately decided by the United States Supreme Court. This, in turn, put the legitimacy of Bush's victory in question. Many in the Bush campaign blame all of this on the October surprise, and whether or not the timing of this revelation was smart politics or dirty politics will continue to be the subject of debate among partisans.