Changes

The two candidates had a series of three debates.  Gore, a seasoned Ivy league debater, was declared the winner by the press and 'ivory tower' pundits in each of the debates—even as Bush's poll numbers increased.  Bush's speaking style, while causing disgust to the elites, played well in middle America who considered him real.  Also, the downgrading of Bush's intellect within the press before the debates led Bush to easily exceed expectations.  Gore also confounded himself, as he showed a different style in each of the debates leading the American people to wonder who he was.  It was especially apparent in the last debate, when, after hearing that he didn't attack enough in the previous debates, Gore actually walked over to where Bush was while Bush was giving an answer and started to question him.  Bush gave a quick retort and Gore continued to ask more questions.  Bush finally turned to the moderator who restored order.  The press was ecstatic after the debate saying that Bush had to cry out to be saved, but the American people had a different view of such blatant breaking the rules and Bush's numbers continued to increase.

The two candidates had a series of three debates.  Gore, a seasoned Ivy league debater, was declared the winner by the press and 'ivory tower' pundits in each of the debates—even as Bush's poll numbers increased.  Bush's speaking style, while causing disgust to the elites, played well in middle America who considered him real.  Also, the downgrading of Bush's intellect within the press before the debates led Bush to easily exceed expectations.  Gore also confounded himself, as he showed a different style in each of the debates leading the American people to wonder who he was.  It was especially apparent in the last debate, when, after hearing that he didn't attack enough in the previous debates, Gore actually walked over to where Bush was while Bush was giving an answer and started to question him.  Bush gave a quick retort and Gore continued to ask more questions.  Bush finally turned to the moderator who restored order.  The press was ecstatic after the debate saying that Bush had to cry out to be saved, but the American people had a different view of such blatant breaking the rules and Bush's numbers continued to increase.

== Last minute surprise ==

== October Surprise ==

While Gore had enjoyed a lead through much of the campaign, a few days before the election Bush's bounce from the debates was enough to put him in the lead by a small margin.  It was then that a "surprise" was dropped that Bush had a DUI in 1976, over two decades ago.<ref>http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/02/bush.dui/</ref>  Blasted on the airwaves continuously before the election itself and with little time to defend it, undecided voters in the last days went heavily for Gore and actually gave him a plurality of the popular vote.

While Gore had enjoyed a lead through much of the campaign, a few days before the election Bush's bounce from the debates was enough to put him in the lead by a small margin.  It was then that a "surprise" was dropped that Bush had a [[DUI]] in 1976, over two decades ago.<ref>http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/02/bush.dui/</ref>  Blasted on the airwaves continuously before the election itself and with little time to defend it, undecided voters in the last days went heavily for Gore and actually gave him a plurality of the popular vote.

==Electoral Count==

==Electoral Count==