United States presidential election, 1996

The 53rd election of the President of the United States of America took place on 5 November 1996. Was re-elected Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States of America thus remained.

Candidates

The Democratic Party nominated the incumbent Bill Clinton and Al Gore, for the Republican Party were Bob Dole as a candidate for the office of president and Jack Kemp as a candidate for the office of Vice President in the race. As a third-party candidate Ross Perot competed for the Reform Party with running mate Pat Choate and Ralph Nader for the Green Party with vice presidential candidate Winona LaDuke.

Electioneering

From the beginning, Clinton had an age advantage against the 72 -year-old Bob Dole. Clinton was able to portray his opponent as aging conservatives, and so Clinton had during the entire time a comfortable lead over Dole and the other candidates.

In the television duels Perot was refused participation, whereas he later filed suit.

Result

Bill Clinton received 47,401,185 ( 49.2% ) of the total votes, while Dole total of only 39,197,469 ( 40.71 %) got votes. With 8,085,294 (8.4%) votes Ross Perot was expected to be lagging far behind. In optional decisive Electoral College Clinton received 379 votes, Bob Dole, however only 159 votes.