Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1992

Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1992
United States
February 10 to June 9, 1992
 
Candidate Bill Clinton Jerry Brown Paul Tsongas
Home state Arkansas California Massachusetts
Delegate count 3,372 596 289
Contests won 35 6 7
Popular vote 10,482,411 4,071,232 3,656,010
Percentage 52.0% 20.2% 18.1%
 
Candidate Tom Harkin Bob Kerrey
Home state Iowa Nebraska
Delegate count 49 15
Contests won 1 1
Popular vote 280,304 318,457
Percentage 1.4% 1.6%

Previous Democratic nominee

Michael Dukakis

 Democratic nominee

Bill Clinton

The 1992 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 1992 U.S. presidential election. Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was selected as the nominee 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.

Candidates

During the aftermath of the Gulf War, President George H. W. Bush's approval ratings were extremely high. During one point after the successful performance by U.S forces in Kuwait, President Bush's approval ratings were 89%.[1] As a result, several high-profile candidates such as Mario Cuomo refused to seek the Democratic Nomination for President. Senator (later Vice-President) Al Gore refused to seek the nomination due to the fact his son was struck by a car and was undergoing extensive surgery as well as physical therapy.[2]

The Democrats lacked a high-profile viable candidate to face an incumbent Republican president. Still, several candidates such as Bill Clinton, Paul Tsongas and Jerry Brown chose to run.

Candidates:

Nominee

Withdrew during convention

Withdrew during primaries

Withdrew before primaries

Primary race

Clinton, a Southerner with experience governing a more conservative state, positioned himself as a centrist New Democrat. He prepared for a run in 1992 amidst a crowded field seeking to beat the incumbent President George H. W. Bush. In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, Bush seemed unbeatable but an economic recession -- which ultimately proved to be small by historical standards -- spurred the Democrats on. Tom Harkin won his native Iowa without much surprise. Clinton, meanwhile, was still a relatively unknown national candidate before the primary season when a woman named Gennifer Flowers appeared in the press to reveal allegations of an affair. Clinton sought damage control by appearing on 60 Minutes with his wife, Hillary Clinton, for an interview with Steve Kroft. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts won the primary in neighboring New Hampshire but Clinton's second-place finish – strengthened by Clinton's speech labeling himself "The Comeback Kid" – re-energized his campaign. Clinton swept nearly all of the Southern Super Tuesday primaries, making him the solid front runner. Jerry Brown, however, began to run a surprising insurgent campaign, particularly through use of a 1-800 number to receive grassroots funding. Brown "seemed to be the most left-wing and right-wing man in the field. [He] called for term limits, a flat tax, and the abolition of the Department of Education."[3] Brown scored surprising wins in Connecticut and Colorado and seemed poised to overtake Clinton.

On March 17, Tsongas left the race when he decisively lost both the Illinois and Michigan primaries to Clinton, with Brown as a distant third. Exactly one week later, Brown eked out a narrow win in the bitterly fought Connecticut primary. As the press focused on the primaries in New York and Wisconsin, which were both to be held on the same day, Brown, who had taken the lead in polls in both states, made a serious gaffe: he announced to an audience of various leaders of New York City's Jewish community that, if nominated, he would consider the Reverend Jesse Jackson as a vice presidential candidate. Jackson was still a controversial figure in that community and Brown's polling numbers suffered. On April 7, he lost narrowly to Bill Clinton in Wisconsin (37-34), and dramatically in New York (41-26). In addition, his "willingness to break with liberal orthodoxy on taxes led to denunciations from the party regulars, but by the end of the race he had been embraced by much of the Left."[3]

Although Brown continued to campaign in a number of states, he won no further primaries. Despite this, he still had a sizable number of delegates, and a big win in his home state of California would have deprived Clinton of sufficient support to win the nomination. After nearly a month of intense campaigning and multiple debates between the two candidates, Clinton managed to defeat Brown in the California primary by a margin of 47% to 40%

Statewide contest by winner

Results by state

Bill Clinton Jerry Brown Paul Tsongas Bob Kerrey Tom Harkin Larry Agran Uncommitted Charles Woods Eugene McCarthy Lyndon LaRouche
February 10 Iowa Caucus
(49 of 49 Delegates)		 2.81% 1.60% 4.11% 2.41% 76.55%
(49-Delegates)		 - 11.92% - - -
February 18 New Hampshire
(18 of 18 Delegates)		 24.78%
(9-Delegates)		 8.15% 33.20%
(9-Delegates)		 11.08% 10.18% 0.20% - 1.71% 0.13% 0.07%
February 23 Maine Caucus
(23 of 23 Delegates)		 15.13% 30.77% 29.31% 3.01% 4.99% - 16.65% 0.14% - 0.74%
February 25 South Dakota
(15 of 15 Delegates)		 19.10% 3.86% 9.62% 40.12% 25.23% 1.11% - - - -
March 3 Colorado
(47 of 47 Delegates)		 26.90% 28.82% 25.61% 12.34% 2.45% 0.28% 2.24% 0.44% 0.20% 0.14%
March 3 Georgia
(76 of 76 Delegates)		 57.17% 8.10% 24.01% 4.85% 2.09% - 3.80% - - -
March 3 Idaho Caucus
(18 of 18 Delegates)		 11.56% 4.57% 28.76% - 29.57% - 17.47% - - -
March 3 Maryland
(67 of 67 Delegates)		 35.76% 8.75% 43.40% 5.09% 6.20% - - - - 0.80%
March 3 Minnesota Caucus
(78 of 78 Delegates)		 - - 19.2% - 26.7% - - - - -
March 3 Utah Caucus
(23 of 23 Delegates)		 18.24% 28.39% 33.77% 10.58% 4.01% 0.18% 2.30% 0.48% - -
March 3 Washington Caucus
(71 of 71 Delegates)		 13.82% 19.32% 32.01% 6.14% 7.52% 0.79% 20.40% - - -
March 7 Arizona Caucus
(41 of 41 Delegates)		 29.20% 27.50% 34.40% - 7.60% - 1.30% - - -
March 7 South Carolina
(43 of 43 Delegates)		 62.90% 5.98% 18.33% 0.49% 6.58% - 3.13% 0.73% - 0.18%
March 7 Wyoming Caucus
(13 of 13 Delegates)		 28.57% 23.08% 11.72% - 14.29% - 22.34% - - -
March 8 Nevada Caucus
(17 of 17 Delegates)		 26.47% 34.83% 19.69% 0.97% 0.45% - 17.60% - - -
March 10 Florida
(148 of 148 Delegates)		 50.79% 12.19% 34.75% 1.06% 1.22% - - - - -
March 10 Hawaii Caucus
(14 of 14 Delegates)		 51.49% 13.60% 14.30% 0.40% 12.71% - 7.50% - - -
March 10 Louisiana
(60 of 60 Delegates)		 69.46% 6.63% 11.06% 0.78% 1.05% 0.91% - 2.34% 3.94% 0.80%
March 10 Massachusetts
(94 of 94 Delegates)		 10.95% 14.60% 66.38% 0.68% 0.48% 0.28% 1.54% - 0.39% 0.27%
March 10 Mississippi
(39 of 39 Delegates)		 73.11% 9.61% 8.12% 0.87% 1.31% - 6.16% - - 0.73%
March 10 Missouri
(77 of 77 Delegates)		 45.10% 5.70% 10.20% - - - 39.00% - - -
March 10 Oklahoma
(45 of 45 Delegates)		 70.47% 16.69% - 3.20% 3.40% - - 4.04% - 1.56%
March 10 Texas
(0 of 0 Delegates)		 65.56% 8.02% 19.23% 1.37% 1.32% - - 2.03% - 0.82%
March 17 Illinois
(164 of 164 Delegates)		 51.65% 14.65% 25.79% 0.73% 2.04% 0.22% 4.50% - - 0.44%
March 17 Michigan
(131 of 131 Delegates)		 50.73% 16.56% 25.84% 0.55% 1.07% - 4.75% - - 0.35%
March 19 North Dakota Caucus
(14 of 14 Delegates)		 47.08% 7.68% 10.54% 1.23% 6.96% - 26.51% - - -
March 24 Connecticut
(53 of 53 Delegates)		 35.64% 37.24% 19.53% 0.68% 1.11% 1.55% 3.14% - 0.60% 0.52%
March 31 Vermont Caucus
(14 of 14 Delegates)		 17.20% 47.40% 9.68% - - - 25.72% - - -
April 2 Alaska Caucus
(13 of 13 Delegates)		 30.91% 33.09% 1.27% - - - 34.73% - - -
April 5 Puerto Rico
(51 of 51 Delegates)		 95.86% 1.42% 0.09% 1.43% 0.05% 0.03% 0.38% 0.12% - 0.04%
April 7 Kansas
(36 of 36 Delegates)		 51.26% 12.99% 15.23% 1.38% 0.59% 0.09% 13.83% 0.70% - 0.39%
April 7 Minnesota
(0 of 78 Delegates)		 31.14% 30.60% 21.35% 0.58% 2.00% 0.51% 5.57% 0.49% 1.81% 0.26%
April 7 New York
(244 of 244 Delegates)		 40.92% 26.23% 28.61% 1.11% 1.15% 1.07% - - 0.93% -
April 7 Wisconsin
(82 of 82 Delegates)		 37.19% 34.46% 21.83% 0.39% 0.70% 0.41% 2.01% - 0.85% 0.40%
April 11 Virginia Caucus
(78 of 78 Delegates)		 52.00% 12.00% - - - - 36.00% - - -
April 28 Pennsylvania
(169 of 169 Delegates)		 56.48% 25.72% 12.76% 1.64% 1.66% - - - - 1.70%
May 5 Delaware Caucus
(14 of 14 Delegates)		 20.78% 19.50% 30.16% - - - 29.57% - - -
May 5 Indiana
(77 of 77 Delegates)		 63.31% 21.47% 12.21% 3.01% - - - - - -
May 5 North Carolina
(84 of 84 Delegates)		 54.10% 10.40% 8.32% 0.90% 0.85% - 15.42% - - -
May 5 Washington D.C.
(17 of 17 Delegates)		 73.87% 7.21% 10.41% - - - 8.51% - - -
May 12 Nebraska
(25 of 25 Delegates)		 45.53% 21.03% 7.11% - 2.82% 0.19% 16.41% 0.32% 1.01% 0.76%
May 12 West Virginia
(31 of 31 Delegates)		 74.24% 11.90% 6.93% 1.03% 0.90% - - 0.49% - 1.02%
May 19 Oregon
(47 of 47 Delegates)		 45.10% 31.18% 10.48% - - 0.47% - 0.54% 1.90% 0.87%
May 19 Washington
(0 of 71 Delegates)		 42.01% 23.05% 12.83% 1.01% 1.26% - - - - 0.72%
May 26 Idaho
(0 of 18 Delegates)		 48.99% 16.71% - - - 1.58% 29.08% - - 3.65%
May 26 Kentucky
(52 of 52 Delegates)		 56.08% 8.29% 4.88% 0.88% 1.93% - 27.95% - - -
May 27 Arkansas
(36 of 36 Delegates)		 68.05% 11.02% - - - - 18.03% - - 2.90%
June 2 Alabama
(55 of 55 Delegates)		 68.22% 6.72% - - - - 20.15% 3.38% - 1.45%
June 2 California
(348 of 348 Delegates)		 47.47% 40.18% 7.42% 1.19% - 0.87% - - 2.12% 0.77%
June 2 Montana
(16 of 16 Delegates)		 46.81% 18.48% 10.74% - - - 23.98% - - -
June 2 New Jersey
(105 of 105 Delegates)		 63.26% 19.76% 11.15% - - - - - - 1.93%
June 2 New Mexico
(25 of 25 Delegates)		 52.87% 16.92% 6.24% - 1.78% 1.42% 19.44% - - 1.33%
June 2 Ohio
(151 of 151 Delegates)		 61.24% 18.94% 10.63% 2.20% 2.44% - - - - 1.67%
June 9 North Dakota
(0 of 14 Delegates)		 14.52% - - - - - - 20.26% - 21.36%
Legend:   1st place
(popular vote)		 2nd place
(popular vote)		 3rd place
(popular vote)

The convention

The convention met in New York City, and the official tally was:

Clinton chose U.S. Senator Albert A. Gore Jr. (D-Tennessee) to be his running mate on July 9, 1992. Choosing Gore, who is from Clinton's neighboring state of Tennessee, went against the popular strategy of balancing a Southern candidate with a Northern partner. Gore did serve to balance the ticket in other ways, as he was perceived as strong on foreign policy and environmental issues, while Clinton was not.[4] Also, Gore's similarities to Clinton allowed him to really push some of his key campaign themes, such as centrism and generational change.[5]

Before Gore's selection, other politicians were mentioned as a possible running-mate, e.g. Bob Kerrey, Dick Gephardt, Mario Cuomo, Indiana Representative Lee H. Hamilton, Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford, Florida Senator Bob Graham, and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.

The Democratic Convention in New York City was essentially a solidification of the party around Clinton and Gore, though there was controversy over whether Jerry Brown would be allowed to speak. Brown did speak at the convention by seconding his own nomination.

Another additional controversy concerned Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey, who sought a speaking slot at the convention but was not granted one. Casey complained that it was because of his outspoken pro-life views: he had warned the platform committee that Democrats were committing political suicide because of their support for abortion.[6] Clinton supporters have said that Casey was not allowed to speak because he had not endorsed the ticket.[7]

Total popular vote number in primaries:[8]

Convention tallies

For President:[9]

Vice presidential nomination

Clinton selected Tennessee Senator and 1988 candidate Al Gore to be his running-mate. Among others confirmed possible V.P. nominees, who were finalists of Clinton's selection were:

Clinton's list of finalists did not include Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey and Governor of New York Mario Cuomo, who publicly disavowed interest in Vice Presidency.[10]

Convention tally for Vice President

The story of the race was covered in the documentary film The War Room and fictionalized into the novel and film Primary Colors.

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Kagay, Michael R. (May 22, 1991). "History Suggests Bush's Popularity will eventually ebb". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Al Gore's son buster for drugs in hybrid". Reuters. July 5, 2007.
  3. 1 2 Walker, Jesse (2009-11-01) Five Faces of Jerry Brown, The American Conservative
  4. ↑ Ifill, Gwen (1992-07-10). "Clinton Selects Senator Gore Of Tennessee As Running Mate". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  5. ↑ Al Gore from the United States Senate
  6. ↑ The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution May 19, 1992 Page: A/8
  7. ↑ "The myth of Bob Casey's 1992 non-speech". Brendan Nyhan. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  8. ↑ "US President - D Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  9. ↑ "US President - D Convention Race - Jul 13, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  10. 1 2 Ifill, Gwen (July 10, 1992). "THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Democrats; CLINTON SELECTS SENATOR GORE OF TENNESSEE AS RUNNING MATE". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
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