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==1992 Presidential election==

==1992 Presidential election==

:''Main article:'' [[United States presidential election, 1992]]

:''Main article:'' [[United States presidential election, 1992]]

After the surge of support for the war policy of President [[George H.W. Bush]] pushed his popularity to the 90% level, most prominent Democrats decided to wait out the 1992 election. Clinton's main rival, Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, called Clinton "pander bear" who "will say anything, do anything to get votes."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/07/us/the-1992-campaign-democrats-saying-clinton-is-cynical-tsongas-goes-on-the-attack.html THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Democrats; Saying Clinton Is Cynical, Tsongas Goes on the Attack,] By RICHARD L. BERKE, ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 07, 1992. </ref> Appalled by both candidates support of the pending [[NAFTA]] agreement, billionaire [[Ross Perot]] entered the race, ran on a balanced budget, and briefly led the polls. Both Bush and Perot proved poor campaigners, as Clinton and his running mate [[Al Gore]] promised a more responsive government.  Republicans tried to use the character issue, questioning his failure to serve in the [[Vietnam War]] and stories of his illegal drug use in college days. But Bush was handicapped by a bad economy, and was wounded badly among moderates and conservatives for breaking a promise to not raise taxes.  Clinton hammered away at the economy--"It's the economy, stupid!" explained his campaign manager. Clinton and Gore ran as "new Democrats", promising to cut middle class taxes, increase [[direct spending]], end welfare cash payments "as we know it", and support capital punishment. Clinton won the electoral college decisively, and outpolled Bush 43% to 37%, with 19% for Perot.

After the surge of support for the war policy of President [[George H.W. Bush]] pushed his popularity to the 90% level, most prominent Democrats decided to wait out the 1992 election. Clinton's main rival, Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, called Clinton "pander bear" who "will say anything, do anything to get votes."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/07/us/the-1992-campaign-democrats-saying-clinton-is-cynical-tsongas-goes-on-the-attack.html THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Democrats; Saying Clinton Is Cynical, Tsongas Goes on the Attack,] By RICHARD L. BERKE, ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 07, 1992. </ref> Appalled by both candidates support of the pending [[NAFTA]] agreement, billionaire [[Ross Perot]] entered the race, ran on a balanced budget and anti-free trade, and briefly led the polls. Both Bush and Perot proved poor campaigners, as Clinton and his running mate [[Al Gore]] made promises tailored by focus groups and opinion polls.  Republicans tried to use the character issue, questioning his failure to serve in the [[Vietnam War]] and stories of his illegal drug use in college days. But Bush was handicapped by a bad economy, and was wounded badly among moderates and conservatives for breaking a promise to not raise taxes.  Clinton hammered away at the economy--"It's the economy, stupid!" explained his campaign manager. Clinton and Gore ran as "new Democrats", promising to cut middle class taxes, increase [[direct spending]], end welfare cash payments "as we know it", and support capital punishment. Clinton won the electoral college decisively, and outpolled Bush 43% to 37%, with 19% for Perot.

Clinton thus entered Washington with a Democratic Congress and a vague agenda. As the first President born after [[World War II]], Clinton represented the "baby-boom" generation.

Clinton thus entered Washington with a Democratic Congress and a vague agenda. As the first President born after [[World War II]], Clinton represented the "baby-boom" generation.