Changes

Public confidence in the Clinton administration's treatment of China, Iraq, Bosnia, and Israel during 1993-96, evidenced by polls, made the incumbent virtually immune to foreign policy attacks from the Republican Party. Combined with the strong economy overseen by the Republican Congress that Clinton took credit for and the fact that there were no current major foreign policy issues, there was little to run on to oppose him.   

Public confidence in the Clinton administration's treatment of China, Iraq, Bosnia, and Israel during 1993-96, evidenced by polls, made the incumbent virtually immune to foreign policy attacks from the Republican Party. Combined with the strong economy overseen by the Republican Congress that Clinton took credit for and the fact that there were no current major foreign policy issues, there was little to run on to oppose him.   

Clinton enjoyed a relatively easy victory in November and became the first Democratic President to be elected to two terms in office since [[Franklin Roosevelt]] in 1936.  The public showed little interest in the scandals the Clinton [[administration]] was responsible for, such as [[Whitewater]] and Travelgate.  He ran on a moderate platform of [[welfare]] reform and smaller government, similar to the way he portrayed himself as a moderate in the [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992 election]].  The disasterous path of his first two years was forgotten.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/1996.html</ref>

Clinton enjoyed a relatively easy victory in November and became the first Democratic President to be elected to two terms in office since [[Franklin Roosevelt]] in 1936.  The public showed little interest in the scandals the Clinton [[administration]] was responsible for, such as [[Whitewater]] and Travelgate.  He ran on a moderate platform of [[welfare]] reform and smaller government, similar to the way he portrayed himself as a moderate in the [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992 election]].  The disastrous path of his first two years was forgotten.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/1996.html</ref>

Bob Dole promised a 15 percent tax cut, but with a healthy economy that was not a high priority for voters. The press made an issue out of Dole's age and accused him of being 'mean'. Dole, a [[World War II]] veteran who had permanent battle injuries, was reluctant to play off of his war record.  Bill Clinton, of course, had avoided military service.  President Clinton was re-elected with a [[majority]] of the [[Electoral College]] votes but only received a [[plurality]] of the popular vote, similar to his 1992 election. The election is notable for having the lowest percentage of voter turnout (49.1%) since 1924.

Bob Dole promised a 15 percent tax cut, but with a healthy economy that was not a high priority for voters. The press made an issue out of Dole's age and accused him of being 'mean'. Dole, a [[World War II]] veteran who had permanent battle injuries, was reluctant to play off of his war record.  Bill Clinton, of course, had avoided military service.  President Clinton was re-elected with a [[majority]] of the [[Electoral College]] votes but only received a [[plurality]] of the popular vote, similar to his 1992 election. The election is notable for having the lowest percentage of voter turnout (49.1%) since 1924.

==American Dream==

==American Dream==

The theme of the Republican convention was 'Restoring the American Dream,' and convention speeches were filled with [[American Dream]] imagery. Dole's own speech stressed individualism over collectivism and called for a broad, even multicultural, interpretation of the American Dream. In their acceptance speeches, Democrats have traditionally focused on the importance of community and society while Republicans have increasingly emphasized individual struggle. In 1996, the nomination acceptance speeches of Dole's opponents, Clinton and particularly Perot, borrowed from the Republican vision of individualism and personal responsibility which first gained popularity with the [[Ronald Reagan]] presidency of the 1980s. The persistence of American Dream imagery in the speeches of party nominees since the 1960's shows the confidence politicians place in its appeal. The presidential candidates who have best articulated the country's visions and values have been victorious.<ref>Ray D. Dearin, "The American Dream as Depicted in Robert J. Dole's 1996 Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1997 27(4): 698-713,</ref>

The theme of the Republican convention was 'Restoring the American Dream,' and convention speeches were filled with [[American Dream]] imagery. Dole's own speech stressed individualism over collectivism and called for a broad, even multicultural, interpretation of the American Dream. In their acceptance speeches, Democrats have traditionally focused on the importance of community and society while Republicans have increasingly emphasized individual struggle. In 1996, the nomination acceptance speeches of Dole's opponents, Clinton and particularly Perot, borrowed from the Republican vision of individualism and personal responsibility which first gained popularity with the [[Ronald Reagan]] presidency of the 1980s. The persistence of American Dream imagery in the speeches of party nominees since the 1960s shows the confidence politicians place in its appeal. The presidential candidates who have best articulated the country's visions and values have been victorious.<ref>Ray D. Dearin, "The American Dream as Depicted in Robert J. Dole's 1996 Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1997 27(4): 698-713,</ref>

==Voters==

==Voters==

Analysis of polling data shows that the economy was the dominant factor in accounting for voter decisions in 1992, and Clinton, not Perot, was the beneficiary of economic discontent. While issues (mainly abortion) and ideology did play some role, Clinton was not perceived by the electorate as a New Democrat. There was little support for the hypothesis of angry voting. Perot took more votes from Bush than from Clinton.<ref>R. Michael Alvarez and Jonathan Nagler, "Economics, Issues and the Perot Candidacy: Voter Choice in the 1992 Presidential Election," ''American Journal of Political Science'' 1995 39(3): 714-744, in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

Analysis of polling data shows that the economy was the dominant factor in accounting for voter decisions in 1992, and Clinton, not Perot, was the beneficiary of economic discontent. While issues (mainly abortion) and ideology did play some role, Clinton was not perceived by the electorate as a New Democrat. There was little support for the hypothesis of angry voting. Perot took more votes from Bush than from Clinton.<ref>R. Michael Alvarez and Jonathan Nagler, "Economics, Issues and the Perot Candidacy: Voter Choice in the 1992 Presidential Election," ''American Journal of Political Science'' 1995 39(3): 714-744, in [[EBSCO]]</ref>