Five Democrats have entered the race: Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, Nebraska Sen. Bo Kerrey, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and former California governor Jerry Brown.
Patrick Buchanan, a very conservative political commentator, enters the race for the Republican nomination. Buchanan will pull an impressive “protest vote” of more than 30 percent of Republicans in some states.
On a trip to Tokyo, Bush throws up and collapses at a formal dinner. The episode worries voters, who think Vice President Dan Quayle isn’t ready to take over the top job if Bush is incapacitated.
One of the supermarket tabloids runs a cover story that says Bill Clinton had a girlfriend outside his marriage. Clinton goes on TV and says he and his wife have a strong marriage but he drops by 12 points in opinion polls.
The first big primary: New Hampshire. Tsongas wins as Clinton gets into more trouble he’s accused of having schemed to avoid mandatory military service. “Anti-politician” Brown comes in third, asking voters tribute through an 800 number.
Billionaire Ross Perot, after appearing on a television phone-in show, says he’d be willing to run for president if enough people want him to. Calls from supporters flood his offices, and he spends millions starting a campaign. By midsummer, Perot pulls ahead of Bush and Clinton in some polls.
Bob Kerrey, a war hero, can’t seem to grab the voters. He quits the race, as does Tom Harkin. On the Super Tuesday primaries, Clinton regaining support, sweeps the South. By midmonth, Tsongas quits
Asked if he has smoked marijuana, Clinton says he did but “didn’t inhale.” Critics accuse him of trying to weasel out of the question.
George Bush wins enough delegates to win the Republican nomination.
Vice President Quayle criticizes the television character Murphy Brown for deciding to become an unwed mother. It’s the first shot in the Republicans’ “family values” campaign.
As the economy stay bad, Bush’s popularity keeps dropping. The week before the Democratic National Convention, Clinton names Albert Gore Jr., a Tennessee senator and environmentalist, as his vice presidential running mate.
The Democratic National Convention becomes a festival of party unity. A bus tour by Clinton and Gore afterward boosts their popularity. Ross Perot decides to drop his candidacy as he drops in the polls. His supporters are outraged, and many of them say they will support Clinton in the general election.
George Bush gives a forceful speech at the Republican convention, but other speakers are criticized for their angry tone.
The candidates’ marathon is finally over Election Day, Nov. 3.
