2000 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Last updated

2000 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Flag of the United States.svg
  1996 January 24 to June 6, 2000 2004  

  Al Gore, Vice President of the United States, official portrait 1994.jpg BillBradley (cropped).jpg
Candidate Al Gore Bill Bradley
Home state Tennessee New Jersey
Delegate count3,007522
Contests won560
Popular vote10,626,568 2,798,281
Percentage75.8%20.0%

2000 Democratic presidential primaries.svg

  Al Gore

Previous Democratic nominee

Bill Clinton

Democratic nominee

Al Gore

From January 24 to June 6, 2000, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 2000 United States presidential election. Incumbent Vice President Al Gore was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 2000 Democratic National Convention held from August 14 to 17, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, but he went on to lose the Electoral College in the general election against Governor George W. Bush held on November 7 of that year, despite winning the popular vote by 0.5%.

Contents

Primary race overview

The apparent front runner, incumbent Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee, only faced one major candidate in the primaries, U.S. Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey. Both men campaigned to succeed term-limited incumbent Bill Clinton. During the course of the five-month primary season, Gore managed to win every single primary contest over his opponent, and easily won the party's nomination for the 2000 election.

Serious early speculation surrounded Bill Bradley, a U.S. Senator and former NBA player, who had long been considered a potential Democratic contender for the presidency. In December 1998, Bradley formed a presidential exploratory committee and began organizing a campaign. [1] Gore, however, had been considered the favorite for the Democratic nomination as early as 1997, with the commencement of President Clinton's second term. [2] Though numerous candidates for the Democratic nomination tested the waters, including Senator John Kerry, Governor Howard Dean, [3] Representative Richard Gephardt, and Reverend Jesse Jackson, [4] only Gore and Bradley ultimately entered the contest.

Bradley campaigned as the liberal alternative to Gore, taking positions to the left of him on issues like universal health care, gun control, and campaign finance reform. On the issue of taxes, Bradley trumpeted his sponsorship of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which had significantly cut tax rates while abolishing dozens of loopholes. [5] He voiced his belief that the best possible tax code would be one with low rates and no loopholes, but he refused to rule out the idea of raising taxes to pay for his health care program.

On public education, Bradley pushed for increased federal funding for schools under Title I, as well as the expansion of the Head Start program. [6] He further promised to bring 60,000 new teachers into the education system annually by offering college scholarships to anyone who agreed to become a teacher after graduating. [7] Bradley also made child poverty a significant issue in his campaign. Having voted against the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, better known as the "Welfare Reform Act," which, he said, would result in even higher poverty levels, [5] he promised to repeal it as president. He also promised to address the minimum wage, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, allow single parents on welfare to keep their child support payments, make the Dependent Care Tax Credit refundable, build support homes for pregnant teenagers, enroll 400,000 more children in Head Start, and increase the availability of food stamps. [7]

Although both Gore and Bradley showed comparable success in terms of fund-raising, Bradley lagged behind Gore in many polls from the start and never gained a competitive position. Despite the late endorsement of the Des Moines Register , [8] Bradley went on to be defeated in the Iowa Caucus; Gore garnered 62.9% of the votes, while Bradley received only 36.6%. [9] Gore won the primary competition in New Hampshire as well, though by a significantly smaller margin, receiving 49.7% to Bradley's 46.6%. On Super Tuesday, Bradley attracted some support in various primaries, especially in northeastern states, but he failed to gain the majority of delegates in any of these competitions. He withdrew from the race on March 9. [10]

Since the advent of the modern presidential primary system began in 1972, Gore remains the only non-incumbent (Republican or Democrat) to sweep all the nominating contests held in a given year.

Candidates

Nominee

CandidateMost recent officeHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests wonRunning mate
Al Gore, Vice President of the United States, official portrait 1994.jpg Al Gore Vice President of the United States
(1993–2001)
Flag of Tennessee.svg  Tennessee Gorelogo.svg

(Campaign)
Secured nomination:
March 14, 2000

10,885,814

(75.4%)

56 Joe Lieberman

Withdrew during primaries or convention

CandidateMost recent officeHome stateCampaignPopular voteContests won
Bill Bradley BillBradley (cropped).jpg U.S. Senator from New Jersey

(1979–1997)

Flag of New Jersey.svg  New Jersey Bill Bradley logo.png

(Campaign)

Withdrew: March 9, 2000

3,027,912

(21.0%)

0
Lyndon LaRouche Lyndon LaRouche (cropped).jpg Founder of the LaRouche Movement Flag of New Hampshire.svg  New Hampshire

(Campaign)

276,075

(1.19%)

0

Declined

Polling

Source [16] Date Al Gore Bill Bradley Jesse Jackson Dick Gephardt John Kerry Bob Kerrey Paul Wellstone
Gallup Sep. 6–7, 199749%13%15%7%5%4%0%
Gallup May 8–10, 199851%8%12%7%2%3%1%
Gallup Oct. 23–25, 199841%15%11%14%4%4%1%
Gallup Jan. 8–10, 199947%12%11%13%5%-1%
Gallup Mar. 12–14, 199958%21%15%----
Gallup Apr. 13–14, 199954%34%-----
Gallup Apr. 30 – May 2, 199966%23%-----
Gallup May 23–24, 199959%30%-----
Gallup Jun. 4–5, 199963%28%-----
Gallup Jun. 25–27, 199964%28%-----
Gallup Aug. 16–18, 199958%31%-----
Gallup Sep. 10–14, 199963%30%-----
Gallup Oct. 8–10, 199951%39%-----
Gallup Oct. 21–24, 199957%32%-----
Gallup Nov. 4–7, 199958%33%-----

Results

Statewide

2000 Democratic primaries and caucuses [17]
DatePledged delegatesContest Bill Bradley Al Gore Lyndon LaRouche
January 2447 Iowa caucuses 36.60%
(18)
62.85%
(29)
0.00%
February 122 New Hampshire primary 45.59%
(9)
49.73%
(13)
0.08%
February 50 Delaware primary 40.18%57.24%2.59%
February 290 Washington primary 34.21%65.25%0.54%
March 7
(1,310)

(Super Tuesday)

6 American Samoa caucuses  ?%
(1)
?%
(3)
3.03%
367 California primary 18.19%
(62)
81.21%
(305)
0.60%
54 Connecticut primary 41.37%
(24)
55.60%
(30)
3.03%
77 Georgia primary 16.18%
(12)
83.82%
(65)
-
20 Hawaii caucuses  ?%
(2)
?%
(20)
 ?%
18 Idaho caucuses  ?%
(4)
?%
(14)
 ?%
23 Maine primary 41.26%
(10)
54.02%
(13)
0.32%
68 Maryland primary 28.45%
(19)
67.32%
(49)
0.89%
93 Massachusetts primary 37.17%
(35)
59.77%
(58)
0.37%
75 Missouri primary 33.56%
(24)
64.62%
(51)
0.34%
243 New York primary 326,417

33.46%
(85)

639,417

65.62%
(158)

0.92%
14 North Dakota caucuses  ?%
(2)
?%
(12)
 ?%
146 Ohio primary 24.70%
(37)
73.61%
(109)
1.69%
22 Rhode Island primary 40.35%
(9)
56.92%
(13)
0.42%
15 Vermont primary 43.89%
(6)
54.33%
(9)
0.72%
75 Washington caucuses 28.20%
(22)
68.39%
(53)
0.54%
March 943 South Carolina caucuses 1.78%91.79%
(43)
0.0%
March 10
(75)
51 Colorado primary 23.29%
(7)
71.43%
(44)
0.93%
24 Utah primary 20.14%
(3)
79.86%
(21)
-
March 11
(250)
47 Arizona primary 18.88%
(7)
77.89%
(40)
1.66%
129 Michigan caucuses 16.27%
(9)
82.74%
(120)
0.99%
74 Minnesota caucuses ~12%
(2)
~74%
(72)
11.0%
March 1220 Nevada caucuses 2.22%88.91%
(20)
0.0%
March 14
(566)
161 Florida primary 18.17%
(17)
81.83%
(144)
-
61 Louisiana primary 19.92%
(7)
72.96%
(54)
3.89%
37 Mississippi primary 8.60%89.62%
(37)
1.78%
45 Oklahoma primary 25.44%
(7)
68.71%
(38)
5.85%
68 Tennessee primary 5.26%92.13%
(68)
0.48%
194 Texas primary 16.34%
(12)
80.24%
(182)
3.42%
March 183 Guam caucuses  ?%?%
(3)
1.41%
March 21161 Illinois primary 14.24%
(12)
84.35%
(149)
1.41%
March 2513 Wyoming caucuses 4.98%85.44%
(13)
7.28%
March 2715 Delaware caucuses  ?%?%
(15)
 ?%
April 151 Virgin Islands caucuses  ?%?%
(3)
 ?%
April 251 Puerto Rico caucuses  ?%?%
(51)
 ?%
April 4
(238)
161 Pennsylvania primary 20.73%
(21)
74.20%
(139)
4.53%
77 Wisconsin primary 8.77%88.55%
(77)
1.01%
April 1579 Virginia caucuses  ?%?%
(79)
 ?%
April 2213 Alaska caucuses  ?%68.39%
(13)
 ?%
May 2

(175)

17 Washington, D.C. primary -95.90%
(17)
4.10%
72 Indiana primary 21.95%
(10)
74.91%
(62)
3.15%
86 North Carolina primary 18.31%
(13)
70%
(73)
2.11%
May 9

(56)

26 Nebraska primary 26.27%
(5)
69.38%
(21)
3.01%
30 West Virginia primary 18.44%
(3)
72.01%
(27)
1.90%
May 1647 Oregon primary -84.86%
(47)
10.86%
May 23

(86)

37 Arkansas primary -78.47%
(37)
21.53%
(7)
0 Idaho primary 17.4%75.73%8.24%
49 Kentucky primary 14.68%
(3)
71.26%
(46)
2.24%
June 6

(217)

54 Alabama primary -76.74%
(54)
5.58%
17 Montana primary -77.87%
(15)
-
105 New Jersey primary -94.89%
(105)
5.11%
26 New Mexico primary 20.57%
(3)
74.63%
(23)
2.32%
15 South Dakota primary -?%
(15)
 ?%

Counties carried

Democratic presidential primaries results by county margin, 2000.svg

  Gore
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
  Bradley
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Uncommitted
  •   Uncommitted
  Tie
  •   Tie

Democratic presidential primaries results by county, 2000.svg

   Al Gore
  Uncommitted
  Tie
  No results

Nationwide

2000 Democratic National Primary Results [17]
Al Gore Bill Bradley Lyndon LaRouche UncommittedOthers
Popular Vote10,626,568 (75.80%)2,798,281 (19.96%)323,014 (2.30%)238,870 (1.70%)33,418 (0.24%)
Delegates3,007 (85.16%)522 (14.78%)7 (0.06%)2-

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman was nominated for vice president by voice vote. Lieberman became the first Jewish American ever to be chosen for this position by a major party. Other potential running-mates included:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Gephardt</span> American attorney, lobbyist and politician (born 1941)

Richard Andrew Gephardt is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who represented Missouri's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he was House majority leader from 1989 to 1995 and minority leader from 1995 to 2003. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1988 and 2004. Gephardt was mentioned as a possible vice presidential nominee in 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, and 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From January 14 to June 8, 2004, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 2004 United States presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From February 10 to June 9, 1992, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1992 United States presidential election. Despite scandals and questions about his character, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton won the nomination through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1992 Democratic National Convention held from July 13 to July 16, 1992, in New York City. Clinton and Tennessee Senator Al Gore were nominated by the convention for president and vice president, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Gore 2000 presidential campaign</span> American political campaign

The 2000 presidential campaign of Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States under President Bill Clinton, began when he announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Carthage, Tennessee, on June 16, 1999. Gore became the Democratic nominee for the 2000 presidential election on August 17, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign</span> Political campaign

The 1992 presidential campaign of Bill Clinton, the then-governor of Arkansas, was announced on October 3, 1991, at the Old State House in Little Rock, Arkansas. After winning a majority of delegates in the Democratic primaries of 1992, the campaign announced that then-junior U.S. senator from Tennessee, Al Gore, would be Clinton's running mate. The Clinton–Gore ticket defeated Republican incumbent President George H. W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle in the presidential election on November 3, 1992, and took office as the 42nd president and 45th vice president, respectively, on January 20, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1996 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, 1996, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They coincided with the presidential election of the same year, in which Democrat Bill Clinton was re-elected president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1990 United States Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. The Democratic Party increased its majority with a net gain of one seat from the Republican Party. The election cycle took place in the middle of President George H. W. Bush's term, and as with most other midterm elections, the party not holding the presidency gained seats in Congress. This was the first time since 1980 that any party successfully defended all their own seats, and the first time Democrats did so since 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Shrum</span> American journalist

Robert M. "Bob" Shrum is the director of the Center for the Political Future and the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at the University of Southern California, where he is a professor of political science in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He is a former American political consultant, who has worked on numerous Democratic campaigns, including as senior advisor to the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004 and to the Gore-Lieberman campaign in 2000. Shrum wrote the famous speech Ted Kennedy gave at the 1980 Democratic National Convention conceding to and supporting President Jimmy Carter. He has been described as "the most sought-after consultant in the Democratic Party." Shrum served as speechwriter to New York Mayor John V. Lindsay from 1970 to 1971, speechwriter to Senator George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign and speechwriter and press secretary to Senator Edward M. Kennedy from 1980 to 1984 and political consultant until 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Gore 1988 presidential campaign</span> American political campaign

The 1988 presidential campaign of Al Gore, U.S. Senator of Tennessee and former House Representative began on April 11, 1987. He campaigned for President of the United States as a Democratic candidate in the 1988 presidential election, against Democratic candidates Joe Biden, Dick Gephardt, Paul Simon, Jesse Jackson, and Michael Dukakis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 United States Senate election in Minnesota</span>

The 2002 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Senator Paul Wellstone was running for a third term but died in a plane crash eleven days before the election. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) quickly chose former Vice President and 1984 presidential nominee Walter Mondale to replace Wellstone on the ballot. Mondale had previously held the seat from 1964 to 1976, resigning to assume the vice presidency. He narrowly lost to Republican Norm Coleman, the former mayor of Saint Paul. The day before the election, Governor Jesse Ventura appointed the 1996 Independence Party candidate, Dean Barkley, to serve the remainder of Wellstone's term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From February 8 to June 14, 1988, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1988 United States presidential election. Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1988 Democratic National Convention held from July 18 to July 21, 1988, in Atlanta, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From January 29 to June 4, 1996, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1996 United States presidential election. Incumbent President Bill Clinton was again selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1996 Democratic National Convention held from August 26 to August 29, 1996, in Chicago, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Missouri Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2000 Missouri Democratic presidential primary took place on March 7, 2000, as one of 15 states and one territory holding primaries on the same day, known as Super Tuesday, in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2000 presidential election. The Missouri primary was an open primary, with the state awarding 92 delegates towards the 2000 Democratic National Convention, of which 75 were pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Dean 2004 presidential campaign</span> American political campaign

The 2004 presidential campaign of Howard Dean, 79th Governor of Vermont, began when he formed an exploratory committee to evaluate a presidential election campaign on May 31, 2002. Dean then formally announced his intention to compete in the 2004 Democratic primaries to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for President on June 23, 2003. Dean dropped out of the race in February 2004 after a poor showing in the Wisconsin primary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Gephardt 2004 presidential campaign</span> American political campaign

The 2004 presidential campaign of Dick Gephardt, the Democratic former House Minority Leader and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri, was formally launched in February 2003. Gephardt had previously ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, but lost to Mike Dukakis. In 2002, Gephardt resigned as House Minority Leader to focus on his campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Bradley 2000 presidential campaign</span> American political campaign

The 2000 presidential campaign of Bill Bradley, former Senator of New Jersey began when he formed an exploratory committee in December 1998, with a formal announcement in January 1999. He ran in the 2000 presidential primaries, opposing incumbent Vice President Al Gore for his party's nomination. Bradley campaigned as a progressive alternative to Gore, taking positions to the left of Gore on a number of issues, including universal health care, gun control, and campaign finance reform.

Since 1983, the Democratic Party of the United States holds a few debates between candidates for the Democratic nomination in presidential elections during the primary election season. Unlike debates between party-nominated candidates, which have been organized by the bi-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates since 1988, debates between candidates for party nomination are organized by mass media outlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2000 election. Incumbent Vice President Al Gore won the 2000 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and chose Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman as his running mate on August 7, 2000. Lieberman, a centrist two-term Democratic senator, was chosen for being "tough on defense" and foreign policy issues. Lieberman was the first Jewish nominee chosen for a national ticket. The choice of Lieberman was announced shortly before the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher led the vetting process. The Gore–Lieberman ticket ultimately lost to the Bush–Cheney ticket in the general election. Coincidental to the presidential election, Lieberman was re-elected to a third term as senator from Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2000 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, was the second major test of the leading contenders for the Democratic Party's nomination as its candidate for the 2000 presidential election, took place on February 1, 2000.

References

  1. Preston, Jennifer (December 5, 1998). "Bradley Takes First Step Toward Presidential Race". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  2. APPLE, R. W. Jr. (January 19, 1997). "Gore Is Crossing Starting Line for Year 2000". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  3. "Politics1 - Guide to the Inactive 2004 Democratic Presidential Prospects". Archived from the original on May 15, 2008.
  4. 1 2 "Jesse Jackson Won't Run for President". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Dao, James (September 22, 1999). "Moynihan to Endorse Bradley, Favoring Friend Over the Vice President". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  6. Steinberg, Jacques (February 29, 2000). "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE EDUCATION ISSUE; The Candidates' Homework on Schools". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Bill Bradley for President 2000 Campaign Brochure". www.4president.org.
  8. "Des Moines Register endorses Bradley". CNN. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  9. "CNN.com International". CNN. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008.
  10. Dao, James; Kristof, Nicholas D. (March 9, 2000). "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE QUEST; His Early Promise Vanished, Bradley Plans to Quit Today". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  11. "Warren Beatty For President?". CBS News. August 12, 1999. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  12. Ellison, Michael (January 3, 2000). "F-words persuade Warren Beatty not to run". The Guardian. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Gray, Jerry (March 29, 1997). "Gephardt Takes to the Road, and Speculation on 2000 Follows" . The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  14. "Ted Turner for President?". Sun Sentinel. November 16, 1998. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  15. "Sen. Paul Wellstone | StarTribune.com". Star Tribune . Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  16. Moore, David. "Gore Leads Bradley Nationally Among Democrats, Except in Northeast". Gallup. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "2000 Presidential Democratic Primary Election Results".