US elections: Did Ralph Nader's presidential bid in 2000 cost Al Gore the election?

No

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by Melody Bish

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After eight years of peace and prosperity, sitting Vice-President Al Gore, easily moved through the 1999 primary campaign and was annointed Democratic Nominee for President. The GOP nominated then Texas Governor, George Bush, who entered the campaign with a significantly filled war chest. Initially, political pundits viewed the race as, essentially more Clintonesque policies via Gore, while Bush was viewed as unable to fill his father's shoes but a likeable enough fellow.

Polling reflected a close race, with Gore maintaining a slight lead in the Electoral College. After some verbal gaffes, Bush grabbed onto an issue which resonated with the public, a restoration of dignity in the Oval Office and American moral superiority. Rather than asking President Clinton, then near the height of his popularity, to join him on the election trail, Gore seemed more interested in looking forward than touting the economic success of the Clinton/Gore Administration. Gore, never noted for his natural speech making, was portrayed as a wooden figure without emotion, while Bush erased many voters' concerns about his foreign policy by naming Dick Cheney his vice presidential nominee.

Perpetual Presidential Nominee of the Green Party, Ralph Nader threw his hat into the ring but was so inconsequential on the campaign trail, that he was not even invited to the Presidential Debates. Throughout these debates, Gore was chastized for audibly sighing in disgust during Bush's answers to various queries.

Election night arrived with a race too close to call and with Al Gore never utilizing the campaign skills and popularity of the president he served under for eight years. Despite running a poor campaign and, arguably, failing to use his best arsenal, Gore received more popular votes than any other candidate in history had received.

American elections, however, are determined by the Electoral College and in November 1999, the Electoral votes held by the state of Florida, were what each candidate needed to win the White House. After Florida was called for Gore, each network flip flopped and changed the call on Florida to Bush as winner, which would make Bush the President-Elect. Ultimately, after weeks of recounts and Bush v. Gore being ruled on by the Supreme Court, Gore conceded the election to Bush.

Though it is Monday morning quarterbacking, Gore did not avail himself of all the arsenal available to him as sitting Vice-President, nor did he run on the record of he and President Clinton; thereby allowing Bush to press the agenda and gain ground with conservatives, with various mentions of the restoration of dignity to the Oval Office, a clear punch at President Clinton that Candidate Gore allowed to go unanswered.

The reason for Gore's loss in the 2000 Presidential Campaign is campaign mismanagement; plain and simple.

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