TIMELINE: Dukakis wins '88

[dudeabides]

September 1, 2000 - Kean campaign launches "Democrats for Kean" coalition, Wilder & Lincoln to co-chair

MORRISTOWN, NJ - President Tom Kean's 2000 re-election campaign announced that Former Vice President Douglas Wilder and Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas would be co-chairs of a "Democrats for Kean" coalition, similar to the "Democrats for Reagan" coalition formed in 1980 and 1984. Wilder and Lincoln agreed to promote President Kean's re-election with Democrats, especially in states such as New York, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Washington, and New Hampshire where polls showed good news for the Kean campaign.

September 15, 2000 - President Kean talks second term agenda during speech in Wisconsin

MADISON, WI - President Tom Kean spoke about what his second term agenda would be if re-elected. Kean said that he would continue the current policies he implemented, but also outlined a few new proposals. Kean said he would fight for legislation allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines and to make it illegal for health insurance companies to deny coverage for those with pre-exisitng conditions. Kean also said he supported an insurance pool for those with pre-existing conditions to reduce costs. The President also pledged to complete the southern border fence and to reform the nation's immigration system. Kean supports a temporary guest worker program and a pathway to legal status for those in the country illegally. Kean said that like his opponent, he supported a medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors, but said his plan would cover 90% of the costs while also allowing generic medications to be covered under his plan, something his opponent has not proposed. Kean also said he supported the idea of tax-free scholarship programs for businesses to help students go to college. Kean also pledged to reduce the employee portion of the payroll tax for hourly workers if re-elected.

September 25, 2000 - Ross Perot endorses Tom Harkin for President

CLEVELAND, OH - 1996 Independent Presidential Candidate Ross Perot announced he was supporting Tom Harkin for President in 2000. Perot, a businessman, said Harkin's opposition to NAFTA and support of raising the minimum wage compelled him to make an endorsement. "I believe that Tom Harkin is on the side of the people. He challenged the establishment of his own party and won this nomination, now he's challenging the President and my hope is he wins in November" Perot stated.

September 27, 2000 - Democratic Governors back Kean in re-election bid

Governors Tony Knowles (D-AK), William Donald Schaefer (D-MD), Jim Hunt (D-NC), Don Siegelman (D-AL), Jim Hodges (D-SC), and Ronnie Musgrove (D-MS), endorsed President Tom Kean's re-election. The Governor's cited Kean's fiscal management, aid to states for environmental protection, SCHIP, and his education policies as reasons for the endorsement.

September 29, 2000 - Harkin, Gore join forces for major rally in Ohio despite reports of tension

COLUMBUS, OH - In an effort to show party unity, one-time opponents Tom Harkin and Al Gore campaigned together in Columbus, Ohio. "I'm here today because Tom Harkin has the experience to lead America, and he understands that we need to make a difference for ordinary people by investing in education, health care, the environment, and we need to stop growing inequality in our society" Gore stated. Reports had surfaced throughout the general election campaign that big time Democratic Party donors who supported Gore during the primary season and former Gore staffers refused to support Tom Harkin in the general election. Rumors also surfaced that Gore was angered by Tom Harkin not offering him the vice presidential nomination.

October 2, 2000 - Former Democratic Presidential Candidate endorses President Tom Kean for re-election

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Former Democratic Presidential Candidate and Governor of Indiana Evan Bayh declared he would support President Tom Kean's re-election. "I'm going to be crossing party lines and supporting President Kean for re-election. I believe President Kean is better able to get things done on a bi-partisian basis than Tom Harkin is" Bayh stated at a press conference.

October 4, 2000 - Koch endorses Kean, speaks out against Harkin, praises Gore & Bayh

WASHINGTON, DC - During an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," Former Mayor of New York City Ed Koch endorsed President Tom Kean's re-election and said his party needed to take a new direction. "I think the President has done a decent job, there is always room for improvement but he's done a good job overall. My candidate was originally Evan Bayh because I felt he offered Democrats the direction our party should move in - he's fiscally conservative, socially more progressive, and he understands the need for bi-partisianship" Koch stated. Koch also bashed Tom Harkin. "Tom Harkin first ran for office in Iowa as a moderate, he ran as a fiscal conservative but once he got to Washington, he voted for a lot of wasteful programs. He is too much of an ideologue in my opinion" Koch added. Koch also said he believes the party will lose in 2000 and move in a different direction. "We are going to lose this year, there is no question about it. Our party, I think, should focus on what type of economy we want going forward as opposed to trying to make up this notion that this economy is weak, we need to discuss where we go from here, not what has already happened. We became too ideological this year. My guess is we will lose in 2000, but as we did after the McGovern loss, we will focus on the next two elections - my guess is Al Gore will be back in 2004 and frankly, between Tom Harkin and Al Gore, Gore's vision for the future is a lot more appealing than Senator Harkin simply yelling all the time" Koch added.

[dudeabides]

October 7, 2000 - First Presidential Candidates Debate


“I’m very proud of my record over the last four years. When we took office, our country was experiencing an era of stagnant growth. We implemented policies to turn the economy around. We provided the largest tax relief in history, cutting income taxes for 94% of Americans, including eliminating income taxes for working people. We cut the capital gains tax, the corporate tax, and we created a flat 10% tax for small and medium sized businesses.  By closing loopholes and some deductions, what would have been a $1.2 trillion cost us $300 billion, which are making up for with increased revenue. We implemented NAFTA, repealed $20 billion worth of economic regulations, invested an additional $4 billion in worker re-training programs, and this year we passed historic tort reform. 9.8 million jobs have been created, median income is up by $2,000 where as it fell every year between 1988 and 1997, welfare rolls are half of what they were in 1996, foreign investment in America has hit a historic level, inflation is at it’s lowest level in decades, poverty has fallen from 15.7% to 14%, and we turned deficits into a surplus this year. I plan on continuing these policies and implementing new ones to continue to move our country forward with confidence and hope” – Tom Kean

“The President cites all of these numbers and yes, in some sectors and above higher income Americans especially, the economy is strong. But, for too many, this economy hasn’t lived up to the promises this administration has made. The average farmer today makes over $1,500 less than he did in 1996. In fact, farm profits are down. The average wage of a factory worker has remained flat for two years in a row now. The cost of health care is up by an average of 5% since the President took office in 1997. Seniors are paying nearly 20% more today than they were in 1996 for their prescription drugs. The cost of energy has risen by 12% since 1995. This President has not dealt with the economic issues facing farmers, working Americans, and the elderly. Instead, he has been satisfied with a status-quo where the well to do are way better off and the poorest are not. I’m proud of my record of fighting for those left behind for my entire career. The farm income stabilization program, the Medicaid expansion, and the increased pell grants for college tuition we saw under the previous two administrations are all things I fought for in the U.S. Senate. I think my experience would enable me to be a better steward of this economy” – Tom Harkin

“I have stated multiple times that a lot of the work we’ve done over the last four years will enable us to do even more in the next four. The surplus that we have today will enable us to keep taxes low without running a deficit while paying into medicare and social security. Additionally, we will begin paying down our debt – which ha fallen over the last four years, but we have a ways to go before it’s paid off. With respect to Senator Harkin, 80% of my tax cut went to those earning under $500,000 per year and businesses with fewer than 200 employees. 57% of the income tax cut went to those earning less than $75,000 per year. It’s middle class jobs we’ve created and it’s the middle class who have seen their incomes rise. The wealthiest Americans saw their incomes rise by an average of 1.7% in 1999, compared to 2.1% for those earning $52,000 per year. That’s my record. You have voted to raise taxes 115 times including for the largest middle class tax increase in history. You voted against a constitutional balanced budget amendment, against litigation reform, and against adding 40 years to the life of social security. Again, I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish since 1997” – Tom Harkin

“There are six things I plan on focusing on during my first days and months as President. The first thing is expanding the worker re-training program. President Kean’s $4 billion has reached 35 of 50 states, I’ll expand that program to rural communities as well as suburban ones. Secondly, unlike President Kean, I will fight to raise the minimum wage from $7 per hour to $8 per hour. Thirdly, I will fight for and sign into law a ban on assault weapons, something this President has resisted. I will also fight for and sign into law the ability of the federal government to offer low-interest loans for college students. Fifth of all, I’ll expand Medicaid and SCHIP to cover every child in America with health insurance and poorer adults. The sixth thing is reversing the aid to farmers this President has slashed by 65%. We need to be investing in our people as opposed to giving tax breaks for the wealthy, which is why I will repeal the Kean tax cuts for those earning more than $150,000 per year and use that money to pay for my programs and balance the budget” – Tom Harkin

“There are several things I plan on fighting for over the next four years. First of all, I will continue to make sure that the policies we’ve implemented over the last four years work effectively. I recently laid out a health care plan aimed at lowering the cost of health care by allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines, allowing people with pre-existing conditions to pool together to get cheaper health care with federal tax credits or subsidies, and I will encourage congress to pass a health care savings account bill into law. I also have stated I’ll finish the border fence and work with congress to establish a temporary worker program and a path to legal status in a second term.  A third item I’ll push for is one Senator Harkin and I actually agree on, that is a prescription drug benefit for seniors and low income Americans as part of medicare. If we allow for generic medications to be purchased under this plan and if we allow for competition, we will see the cost of these medications lowered and we’ll save money long term. In a second term, I will also fight for opportunities for scholarship programs from businesses for our young people so they can afford a college education. We are in a position to do great things over the next four years and beyond, and it would be my honor to lead that effort for the next four years” – Tom Kean

“My views on gun control are that not enough is being done today to combat the illegal gun trade. I think our police officers and law enforcement officials in general are in need of newer technology and the ability to make sure those who are breaking the law are caught. Part of this effort is banning assault weapons, which have no place in our society for civilians. But, I respect the right to keep and bear arms for law abiding Americans and I always have” – Tom Harkin

“My administration has presided over a reduction in overall crime by a third and every year I’ve been in office, violent crime has fallen more and more – we have seen a reduction in violent crimes by 44% since I took office four years ago. The fact is, the federal government sent $17.2 billion in aid to local law enforcement agencies when I took over as President. Today, we are spending $23.4 billion. We have also passed, on a bi-partisan basis, three strikes your out sentencing for non-violent drug offenders and we have actually increased mandatory sentencing for violent crimes committed with an illegal handgun from a minimum sentence of 8 years to 16 years. But, my position on gun control has been that I believe in background checks but respect the right to keep and bear arms” – Tom Kean

“One of the things House Republicans have cut is funding for family planning clinics and they don’t just perform abortions. Contraceptive access has been reduced because Newt Gingrich slashed federal funding for poor women to be able to get the right kind of contraceptives and medications. Instead of standing up to Newt Gingrich, the President slashed funding for family planning by 60% since 1997. I will not only preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose, but I will fight to restore that funding for family planning” – Tom Harkin

“My administration has funded federal health clinics for lower income Americans at the same levels President Brown funded them. President  Brown increased funding for federally insured health care clinics by 25% and we haven’t cut that by a penny. The House Republicans supported cutting funding from planned parenthood and I said we need to fund these clinics at present levels, which we have done. But, let me make this clear. I believe that as a matter of public policy, women should have a right to choose in the first and second trimesters. That is what the supreme court said, that is what I have to uphold, but I do not support federal funding of abortions, nor do I support partial-birth abortion” – Tom Kean

“We have done three critical things over the last four years as it relates to education. First, we said that children with learning differences have to get the help they need in any school paid for by taxpayers. This was not an unfunded mandate, we increased aid to local education by $20 billion per year to help communities pay for extra help. Secondly, we said that federal tax dollars would follow a student to a private institution if parents decided that they didn’t want to send their children to a public school. Third of all, we raised standards by stating that if the average test score and grade of a student is below average, the school would have a six-month window to either turn things around or lose federal funding. I intend to continue these policies in the next four years because they have worked in increasing test scores in reading, English, and math” – Tom Kean

“This President increased education funding by $20 billion in 1997, but it has remained flat ever since. As a result, thousands of inner-city schools have had to lay off teachers and keep the same textbooks. I’ll increase federal funding to local education and instead of trying to encourage folks to abandon public education, I’ll fight for uniformity in the educational curriculum. I believe we must encourage greater scientific and English teaching in our schools, and I will create partnerships between the federal government and states to make that a reality. Now, the President points to an increase in test scores and grades. But, in reality, there is a growing gap in education. The increases have taken place in wealthier zip codes across America. Our inner-cities aren’t seeing the same results. Test scores in the President’s home town of Livingston, New Jersey where the median income is over $90,000 per year are up by 60% since he took office. But, in Los Angeles, test scores are up by 2%. In Detroit, they are down by 15%. There is a growing gap between rich and poor in education as well as the economy” – Tom Harkin

[dudeabides]

October 12, 2000 - Dole, Toricelli participate in Vice Presidential Debate


"I believe my fitness to be Vice President of the United States comes from experience in the private sector, in nonprofit, in government, and in my training as an attorney. I'm very proud of my record, the President's record, and the American people's record of the last four years. In the eight years before we took office, we saw stagnant growth and growing deficits, today we have the strongest economy perhaps in history and budget surpluses. We came together as a country and reduced taxes and regulations, opened up our markets, and passed historic litigation reform. We've also managed to come together to save social security, reform medicare, and invest in education and health care for children whose families can't afford to provide them with health insurance. Our opponents propose the largest tax increase in history and a return to the failures of the eight years before we took over" - Elizabeth Dole

"I'm qualified to be Vice President of the United States because I have been an advocate for working Americans throughout my career and life. I helped write the bill that increased pell grants for low income students, I led the fight to stop Ronald Reagan and the Republicans from slashing medicare by 12%, I fought the Republicans when they were fighting to cut funding for HUD by $2 billion, and I'm proud to have fought three times to expand the earned income tax credit for the working poor. I have the experience necessary to advise the President of the United States. But what this really comes down to is vision. What I have seen from this administration is an ideological movement, they go through the motions of pushing an agenda that is purely ideological, and they use it to try and fool people into believing everything they've done has been flawless. Tom Harkin and I are not fighting for an ideology, we are fighting to stand up for working people in this country who have been failed by this President" - Robert Toricelli


October 17, 2000 - Kean, Harkin debate foreign policy & national security


"In 1997, I outlined a program to rebuild our military to Reagan-era levels while increasing funding for human intelligence, technology, and arms for our military. We've begun implementing that program. We have updated our weapons systems and have more intelligence personnel today than at any time in our history. The United States is taking a lead in stopping extremism globally while promoting human rights. We have placed crippling sanctions against Saddam Hussein which have begun to weaken the Iraqi economy and as a result, his ability to manufacturer more WMD, and we are still waiting for him to come forth and allow weapon inspectors back into Iraq. We have stood up and led in the area of encouraging human rights in China, and we are making progress in pressuring the Chinese to respect the rights of their people. We have built alliances with Latin America in the area of trade. Foreign investment in America has hit a record high as we have encouraged free trade. We have an obligation to protect the American people from threats both foreign and domestic while encouraging economic development, human rights, and trade globally as we have for the last four years." - Tom Kean

"The fact is, President Kean's massive increase in defense spending will be, when it's all said and done, the second largest defense spending increase in history. The issue is, the cold war is over. That's why we have been able to spend less on the military, we haven't cut troop pay, but we have been able to reduce the size of the military slightly and we were able, until the President changed course, to keep our existing weapons systems in storage rather than invest billions of dollars towards new ones no one in the pentagon asked for. Additionally, this foreign investment in America the President talks about has helped the very wealthy, but over 120,000 Americans who worked in manufacturing four years ago have lost their jobs. I think defense spending should be 2% of our total GDP, that's what it was when this President took office and it should stay that way. Additionally, we have to enforce unfair trade agreements and repeal those trade agreements, such as NAFTA, which either have no enforcement mechanisms or are not being enforced because our trading partner is cheating. By the way, the President talks about China, China is cheating on trade through currency manipulation and this President has done nothing about it. I'll restore America's place as a world superpower by promoting fairness and equality worldwide" - Tom Harkin

October 25, 2000 - Kean, Harkin participate in final debate


"My fellow Americans, over these last four years we have come together as Americans to reform government and change policy in Washington D.C. We joined together to pass the largest tax relief in history, bills to save medicare and social security, a balanced budget amendment, sweeping litigation reform, an expansion of the previous administration's environmental cleanup bill, historic reforms in our education system, an expansion in health care for the poorest children in our society, and the rebuilding of our military. As a result of our common purpose and hard work, the American economy has created nearly 10 million new jobs since 1997, incomes are up as poverty has fallen, we turned deficits into a surplus, we have seen record educational achievement, inflation is at a historic low, and welfare rolls are half of what they were in 1997. It is important that we continue on the progress of the last four years for the next four. Together, we can reform our health care system so working people can afford insurance, solve the immigration issue in a way which is compassionate but respects the rule of law, help our seniors afford their prescription drugs, make sure our VA system has the state of the art hospitals, and encourage scholarship opportunities for our young people. I'm asking for your vote because I believe that these next four years must be an era of unity, hope, and confidence for all Americans. We are moving in the right direction, and we must move America forward. My opponent and his running mate are good people, with good intentions. But, we simply do not agree on the issues. My opponent, has voted 115 times to raise your taxes, he's voted on three different occasions to slash funding for human intelligence, he voted against NAFTA, and he opposed adding 40 years to the life of social security. Now, he offers the largest tax increase in history, more cuts to our military, and allowing special interests to receive special tax treatment. We simply have different views. I have tried to bring Americans together regardless of backround, income, or political party. I think we have come together as one nation to solve the challenges confronting us. America has made a comeback over the last four years, and I'm asking for your supporting in leading us forward into the new century" - Tom Kean

"My fellow Americans, this election offers a stark contrast between the President and myself. The President is a good man who loves his family and his nation, but I don't believe the decisions he's made have benefitted 100% of Americans. His policies have hurt manufacturers and farmers as Wall Street and the largest corporations in America have seen unprecedented growth in their wealth. The gap between rich and poor has grown not only in income, but in educational achievement as well. Much of the educational achievement the President speaks of has occurred in the wealthiest zip codes in America. Of the ten largest cities in America, eight have seen their educational test scores either remain flat or decline. Drug use has grown under this President and yet, funding for drug prevention has actually been cut by this administration. Farm incomes have fallen as the family farm has seen their bottom line decline due to this President's cut in tax breaks for farmers. Thanks to NAFTA and other unfair trade agreements, over 120,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1997. This record is not acceptable to me, and I know America can do better. In the United States Senate, I have a strong record of protecting farmers and manufacurters, having fought to expand the farm income stabilization program and voted against NAFTA and other trade agreements which haven't been beneficial to our economy or to the rights of workers worldwide. I have taken on the establishment of my own party when I took on this President over education policy because I haven't see him really commit to smaller class sizes and merit pay, two things I believe are crucial to the future of education in America. I stood with members of my party in calling for the President to sign a ban on assault weapons to reduce crime in our inner-cities, the President has failed to act in this area. I plan on correcting the failures of this administration as President. I'll repeal the President's tax cut for the wealthiest Americans and instead provide health care to every child in America, invest in education, and of course as now legally required, balance the budget. I'll fight to raise the minimum wage because American workers deserve to be able to earn a living wage. I'll repeal NAFTA and other unfair trade agreements in which our trading partners are either cheating or where enforcement mechanisms are enabling cheating. I will join the Kyoto Treaty and create tax incentives for alternative sources of energy so we can stop global warming. My fellow Americans, I have the experience to lead our nation, I have been fighting for working families my entire career, and I humbly ask for your support in this election because together, we can restore the promise of America for all of our citizens" - Tom Harkin

[dudeabides]

November 2, 2000 - Election: President Kean wins historic victory, GOP picks up 2 U.S. Senate seats, 14 House Seats

Tom Kean / Elizabeth Dole (R) 60% 451 EV
Tom Harkin / Robert Toricelli (D) 39% 87 EV

Exit Polling - Election 2000

By political party
Republican - Tom Kean 99% Tom Harkin 0.5%
Democratic - Tom Harkin 74% Tom Kean 25%
Independent - Tom Kean 57% Tom Harkin 42%

By ideology
Conservative - Tom Kean 99% Tom Harkin 0.1%
Moderate - Tom Kean 58% Tom Harkin 41%
Liberal - Tom Harkin 82% Tom Kean 17%

By income
Less than $30,000 - Tom Harkin 51% Tom Kean 48%
$30,000-$60,000 - Tom Kean 49% Tom Harkin 49%
$60,000-$120,000 - Tom Kean 59% Tom Harkin 41%
$120,000-$250,000 - Tom Kean 63% Tom Harkin 37%
Above $250,000 - Tom Kean 66% Tom Harkin 34%

By ethnicity
White - Tom Kean 64% Tom Harkin 36%
Black - Tom Harkin 84% Tom Kean 16%
Hispanic - Tom Kean 50% Tom Harkin 49%
Asian - Tom Harkin 52% Tom Kean 47%
Other - Tom Harkin 55% Tom Kean 44%

By gender
Male - Tom Kean 62% Tom Harkin 37%
Female - Tom Kean 58% Tom Harkin 41%

Five Closest States
New York - Tom Kean 49.7% Tom Harkin 49.3%
Minnesota - Tom Kean 49.8% Tom Harkin 49.2%
Iowa - Tom Harkin 50% Tom Kean 49%
Maryland - Tom Kean 51% Tom Harkin 48%
Delaware - Tom Kean 51% - Tom Harkin 48%

Five strongest Tom Kean wins
Georgia - Tom Kean 74% Tom Harkin 25%
Idaho - Tom Kean 72% Tom Harkin 27%
New Jersey - Tom Kean 71% Tom Harkin 28%
South Carolina - Tom Kean 65% Tom Harkin 34%
Oklahoma - Tom Kean 63% Tom Harkin 37%

Five strongest Tom Harkin wins / showings
Washington D.C. - Tom Harkin 79% Tom Kean 20%
California - Tom Harkin 53% Tom Kean 46%
Rhode Island - Tom Harkin 52% Tom Kean 47%
Massachusetts - Tom Harkin 51% Tom Kean 48%
Iowa - Tom Harkin 50% Tom Kean 49%

Most important issue
Economy 28%
Taxes 20%
Foreign Policy 19%
Education 12%
Health Care 12%
National Debt 6%
Trade 2%
Other 1%

Newt Gingrich elected to U.S. Senate

ATLANTA, GA - Newt Gingrich, who served in Congress from 1978-1999 and as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991-2000, won his election to the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent U.S. Senator Zell Miller 55%-44% in Georgia.

Key events of President Tom Kean's second term, January 20, 2001 - January 1, 2003
January 20, 2001 - President Tom Kean and Vice President Elizabeth Dole are sworn in for a second term
March 27, 2001 - President Kean signs into law The Watts Amendment, House Speaker JC Watts's bill mandating all companies with contracts with the federal government making public campaign contributions they've made to all federal candidates
June 28, 2001 - President Kean signs into law the Health Care Reform Act, establishing a federal health care savings account, allowing people to buy insurance across state lines, making it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, and establishing a pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions to get inexpensive insurance with federal subsidies
October 27, 2001 – Congress votes to give President Kean the authorization for the use of force against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq
December 18, 2001 – President Kean announces that for the first time in three years, Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein allowed weapons inspectors back into this country
February 15, 2002 – President Kean signs into law the Medicare Prescription Drug Cost Containment Act, allowing seniors to purchase their prescription drugs through medicare at a discounted group rate. The cost of the program will be $300 billion over a decade, or about $30 billion per year. The plan would be paid for by a 5% increase in medicare premiums for households earning $200,000 or more at the time of retirement.
May 23, 2002 – President Kean announces that the federal government will issue $17 billion in bonds over a five year period to update several VA hospitals across the nation
August 4, 2002 – President Kean signs into law a bill banning partial-birth abortion. The bill was written by House Speaker JC Watts (R-OK), Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN).
November 17, 2002 – President Kean signs into law the Secure the Fence Now Act, which mandates that the southern border fence is complete by January 1, 2004. The bill’s cost is $2 billion over two years.

[dudeabides]

January 7, 2003 - Gephardt running for President in 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt declared his intention to run for President a second time in the 2004 presidential election. "President Kean's trade policies have failed American workers, his tax policies have benefitted Wall Street, and his health care policies have benefitted the insurance companies. I'm announcing today that I'm a candidate for President because I want to repeal the Kean tax cut for the very wealthy and provide health insurance to every American. I plan on promoting fair trade, not free and unfair trade. As President, I will fight for the forgotten middle class and make sure America always protects not only the wealthy few, but all of it's people" Gephard stated.

January 25, 2003 - Vice President Elizabeth Dole running for President

CHARLESTON, SC - Vice President Elizabeth Dole announced she would seek the Republican Presidential Nomination in the 2004 election. "I'm declaring my candidacy for President of the United States in the 2004 election. Thanks to the policies of the last eight years, we have seen the longest era of economic prosperity in our nation's history. Our world is safer because of our commitment to protecting Americans and promoting freedom, free markets, and capitalism worldwide. We have seen a great American comeback over the last eight years, and I firmly believe we need to continue the American comeback moving forward" Dole told supporters.

February 4, 2003 - Al Gore to seek presidency in 2004

NASHVILLE, TN - Senate Minority Whip Al Gore announced he was, for a third time, seeking his party's presidential nomination. "I'm declaring today my intention to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for President in 2004. I believe our country is at a crossroads. There is no doubt the economy has grown over the last eight years, but what we need to focus on is what do we do with this prosperity? Do we invest in our people, do we protect our planet, and do we do what is right in this world, or do we simply tell ourselves that we should just sit back and use this moment for our own selfish purposes? I think Americans are ready for a President with the right experience and who challenges our country to reach for the stars" Gore stated.

February 25, 2003 - Vilsack launches presidential bid

DES MOINES, IA - Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack declared his intention to run for President in 2004. "What we are facing today in Washington is a Republican controlled agenda which ignores the needs of ordinary Americans. For too long, the poorest Americans have been stuck in a cycle of poverty because Washington has not invested enough resources in broad worker re-training programs, internet access for rural communities, crime prevention in inner-cities, and a living wage for suburbanites. We must call for change. That's why I'm running for President" Vilsack declared.

March 17, 2003 - George Pataki running for President in 2004

ALBANY, NY - Governor of New York George Pataki declared his intention to seek the 2004 Republican Presidential Nomination. "Like Tom Kean, I have balanced budgets, cut taxes, and made government smaller. I want to continue the policies of the Kean administration, but I want to do even more to make government smaller and more accountable. We can win this election by reaching out to independents and Democrats, and I believe I have the best chance of doing so" Pataki told supporters.

April 4, 2003 - Quayle to seek 2004 Republican Presidential Nomination

INDIANPOLIS, IN - Governor of Indiana Dan Quayle declared he would be a candidate for President in the 2004 election. Quayle, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1981-1999, as Governor of Indiana since January of 2001, and as George Bush's running-mate in the 1988 presidential race, announced his second presidential bid, promising to be the conservative alternative to Elizabeth Dole. "I am a candidate for President of the United States. I believe that we need a strong, conservative President in the year 2004. I will be that conservative leader, as I have spent the last two and a half decades fighting for conservative values. I'll fight for a flat tax, a constitutional human life amendment, the end of the Federal Department of Education, and conservative judges as your President" Quayle told supporters.

April 12, 2003 - Ted Kennedy to seek Democratic Presidential Nomination

BOSTON, MA - Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts declared he would seek the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination. "The work of challenging our country to move forward has not been finished by this administration. Until our air and water is sufficiently clean, every American has health care, social security and medicare are truly preserved, and our tax code is fair, our work is not yet done. So today, I announce, that I will be a candidate for President in the 2004 election" Kennedy stated.

April 27, 2003 - Poll: Dole, Gore lead


GOP Nomination
Elizabeth Dole 50%
Dan Quayle 27%
George Pataki 22%

Democratic Nomination
Al Gore 34%
Richard Gephardt 22%
Ted Kennedy 20%
Tom Vilsack 10%
Other 14%

May 17, 2003 - Rockefeller running for President

DOVER, NH - Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia entered the presidential race. "I think I can offer my experience in both foreign policy and domestic affairs, my electability as a moderate Democrat from a red state, and my work with both Republicans and Democrats on the important issues of the day" Rockefeller told reporters after announcing he was running for President in 2004.

May 24, 2003 - Bill Clinton running for President

HOPE, AR - Bill Clinton, who served as Governor of Arkansas from 1983-1993 and as Secretary of Commerce from 1993-1997 under President Jerry Brown, declared he would be a candidate for the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination. "As Governor of Arkansas, I balanced budgets, cut taxes for working families, rewarded good teachers with better pay, and reduced poverty by investing in job training and infrastructure. I think we need an outsider in Washington to get things done in America" Clinton stated.

[dudeabides]

June 1, 2003 - Democrats strongly oppose Watts bill to define marriage through a constitutional amendment, white house doesn't take a position as Republican candidates remain divided

WASHINGTON, DC - Democrats in both houses of congress and those seeking the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination opposed an effort by House Speaker JC Watts to amend the constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Of the six Democrats running for President, only Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA) said they supported same-sex marriage. Senator Kennedy said the Watts amendment was "ridiculous and political" as Vilsack called it "a disgrace to the institution of congress." Senate Minority Leader Al Gore and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt came together and promised to block Watt's bill. Both Gore and Gephardt oppose same-sex marriage, but support civil unions. Presidential Hopeful Senator Jay Rockefeller argued the issue was a state issue and that Watts was "playing politics." On the Republican side, Governor of New York George Pataki said he also believed that same-sex marriage was a state issue, while Governor of Indiana Dan Quayle voiced support for the constitutional amendment. Vice President Elizabeth Dole did not take a position and said she would support whatever President Kean decided.

June 5, 2003 - At press conference, President Kean opposes constitutional amendment defining marriage, argues states should make the decision
WASHINGTON, DC - President Tom Kean declared he opposed House Speaker JC Watt's proposed constitutional marriage amendment. "I believe that issues such as this one, which are not of a nature where the federal government has traditionally been involved because of the original intent of the constitution, should be left up to the states" Kean stated.


June 12, 2003 - Kennedy pledges ambitious agenda, wins support from liberals

IOWA CITY, IA - Senator Ted Kennedy, Democratic Presidential Candidate, put forth an agenda he believed would "help all Americans reach for the stars." He has won endorsements in the past two weeks from Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Senator John Edwards (D-NC), Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), and Former Governor of New Jersey Jim Florio, as well as the National Education Association and The Sierra Club PAC. Kennedy proposed repealing the Kean tax cut for those earning more than $75,000 per year and providing universal health care to every American. Kennedy also proposed raising the federal minimum wage to $9 per hour, supporting universal pre-K at the federal level, increasing federal funding of stem-cell research, and doubling the number of college pell grants over eight years. "Our success as a country will be defined by our investment in human capital and in the good we do in this world" Kennedy stated.

July 7, 2003 - Rockefeller talks issues on NBC's "Meet the Press"

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Jay Rockefeller discussed why he entered the 2004 presidential race and what he hoped to accomplish if elected President on NBC's "Meet the Press." Rockefeller said he would use the budget surplus to make the largest investment in history into medicare, eliminate the employee part of the payroll tax, and create national education standards in math and reading. "I think we have an extraordinary opportunity to really make an investment in our schools and to make a large payment in medicare. These are two crucial issues because the President has actually cut payments into medicare and local aid to education has remained flat for a few years now, we have to make investments where necessary while also balancing the budget" Rockefeller stated.

August 2, 2003 - Bill Clinton talks presidential agenda in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, NH - Former Secretary of Commerce Bill Clinton pledged to expand college pell grants, raise standards in education, create even stricter work requirements in welfare, end all corporate tax loopholes, and increase penalties for drug kingpins if elected President in 2004. "What we need to do is focus on enhancing the idea that we as a society should expect equal opportunity for all and shared responsibility from all" Clinton stated.

August 5, 2003 - Dole wins Ames, IA straw poll

Elizabeth Dole 1,907
Dan Quayle 1,794
George Pataki 402

August 15, 2003 - Running to the right of Dole, Quayle wins support from social conservatives

IOWA CITY, IA - Pledging to fight for a 15% flat tax for incomes above $75,000 per year, abolishing the federal Department of Education, passing the Watts-backed human life amendment, and appointing conservative justices, Governor of Indiana Dan Quayle stated he was the "clear conservative choice" for President in the 2000 election. "I'm running for President because I believe that life, family, and freedom are the values which define our society" Quayle stated. Quayle picked up endorsements from prominent social conservatives, including televangelist Pat Robertson, Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and activist Gary Bauer.

August 18, 2003 - Group of U.S. Senators endorse Al Gore in presidential bid

DOVER, NH - U.S. Senators Barbra Boxer (D-CA), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Tom Daschle (D-SD), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) endorsed Al Gore's presidential bid. The senators said they felt Gore had the best chance of winning in the 2004 election, and argued that Gore was best fit to serve.

August 24, 2003 - Giuliani endorses Dole over Pataki

ALBANY, NY - Senator Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) endorsed Vice President Elizabeth Dole for President over his own Governor. Giuliani, who served as Mayor of New York City from 1994-2001 before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, had endorsed Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo over GOP challenger George Pataki in the 1994 New York Gubernatorial Election. Giuliani, a close ally of the Kean administration, endorsed Dole, arguing she "was by far the best qualified candidate for President and the best able to lead a united country."

September 4, 2003 - Watts backs Dole for President

CHARLESTON, SC - House Speaker JC Watts endorsed Elizabeth Dole's 2004 presidential bid at an event in South Carolina. "Elizabeth Dole is a proven leader who has worked with the President and Republicans in congress to make government smaller, more efficient, and more accountable. Today, we have an economy which is prospering. I'm confident that by keeping Republicans in the majority and electing Elizabeth Dole as President, we can continue to ensure that our economy prospers by keeping taxes low and allowing the free market to work" Watts stated.

[Bigby]

I'm loving the timeline. That 2000 Presidential election was quite the wipeout, too.

May I ask the state of the internet in this timeline? I noticed that a Windows 2000-looking screenshot of the Gore 2000 campaign website in California exists.

[dudeabides]

I'm loving the timeline. That 2000 Presidential election was quite the wipeout, too.

May I ask the state of the internet in this timeline? I noticed that a Windows 2000-looking screenshot of the Gore 2000 campaign website in California exists.

Thank you for your kind words.

To be honest with you, I hadn't given the state of the internet much thought, that's a great question though.

[dudeabides]

September 15, 2003 - GOP Presidential Candidates Debate, lay out priorities


Question: What makes you stand out in this primary field of candidates?

"In the last six years, Americans have experienced the longest time of economic prosperity in our nation's history. Today, inflation is at it's lowest levels in fifty years, welfare rolls are down by 65%, 15.2 million jobs have been created since President Kean and I took office, we have seen three straight years of budget surpluses, we cut the national debt from $4 trillion to $2.8 trillion, foreign investment in America has seen historic levels, home ownership is up by 15%, the size of government is smaller by about 30,000 civilian workers, and the tax burden on middle and lower income Americans is down by 25%, yet federal revenue is up 45% since 1997. For eight years, President Kean and I have given power back to the American people and promoted economic growth. The question is, where do we go from here? I believe we have to keep taxes low, keep government small, and keep our markets open. But, there is more work to do. President Kean and I have used the surplus to invest in our military, pay into medicare and social security, and pay down the national debt. I will continue that trend but as our surplus grows, I'll also act to reduce medicare premiums on lower income seniors from 10% of health care costs to 5%. I will reduce the tax rate on small business from 10% to 8% by the year 2007. I will block-grant three programs to states: funding for housing and urban development, federal pell grants, and medicaid. That will save taxpayers $120 billion per year. I'll also push for more federal funding for charter schools within existing education spending so we can encourage competition and results in education. We must ensure that our nation lives within it's means, continues the economic growth of the last six years for another four, and we should always fight for the rights of states in the interest of limited government" - Elizabeth Dole

"We have reached a defining moment in our history. Will we use the economic prosperity of the last six years to advance our national interests, will we call for a preservation of our moral values, or will we waste this moment on petty consumption and irresponsibility? In the United States Senate, I'm proud of my 18 years as amongst the most conservative senators. Under President Reagan, I fought for conservative judicial nominees and won a reputation for supporting the President's investment in our navy. I stopped the tax increases Presidents Dukakis and Brown fought for. I'm proud to have worked closely with the President and the Vice President in passing tort reform, which has helped businesses expand and grow since they no longer have to worry about frivolous lawsuits and court battles. As Governor of Indiana, I cut taxes on working families, passed a ban on late term abortion before the federal bill was law, and led the effort to have the largest charter school program in state history. There is a choice for Republicans in this election. I have proposed a 15% flat tax on those earning above $75,000 per year - that's a huge tax break for millions of Americans. I have said that as President, unlike Vice President Dole, I will fight for and sign the House Speaker's federal marriage amendment into law. My administration will get the federal government out of the area of education, we won't spend more as the Vice President has supported doing. I will end the Federal Department of Education and send education spending back to the states, we need local control that is truly local, Washington bureaucrats shouldn't be making the decisions parents and teachers should make. I commit that I will appoint judges who are strict constructionists, who interpret the constitution as it was written and intended. My administration will be committed to censoring inappropriate internet content in schools across this country. I signed a bill into law last year doing so in the State of Indiana. I believe our nominee for President must stand up and fight, and have a record of fighting for, the conservative values we all believe in so deeply" - Dan Quayle

"We have a balanced budget, a surplus, the lowest tax burden in history, and an economy which has seen tremendous growth. I think the three of us on this stage agree, our focus should be on moving us forward, where as our friends on the Democratic side are re-litigating the decisions of the last six years, despite having lost the 2000 election in the largest landslide in U.S. history in the popular vote. This election will be decided about this simple question: who can be a good steward of our economic prosperity, and who can continue to move us in the right direction? I've been a Governor for the last eight years, I've balanced budgets, cut taxes, and reformed government. I have that experience. My opponents in this primary are good people, but I have more experience running a government than anyone in this presidential race. As President of the United States, I plan on fighting to use some of the surplus for economic development in rural regions as well as investing in free enterprise zones in our inner-cities. I believe even more can be done to promote economic growth in areas which have grown at a slower rate than the national average. I also believe that we need to do even more to encourage more free trade with latin America through increasing federal free enterprise zones. Additionally, we must win the war on drugs and to do that, I'll appoint an attorney general who is tough on crime, and we'll stop illegal drugs from pouring across our southern border. I am very optimistic about the next four years. I have what it takes to win this election, I'll reach out to Democrats and independents, and I have the experience to lead this country" - George Pataki

Question: What is the biggest challenge facing the United States today?

"I believe that the biggest challenge facing the United States of America is whether or not we will continue the economic growth of the last six years during the next administration. Let's keep in mind that despite historic gains during the Reagan administration, Michael Dukakis's economic policies led to a recession followed by stagnant growth. The Democrats seeking the presidency this year offer us a return to the Dukakis-Brown policies of more spending, more regulations, protectionism, and bigger government. If we keep taxes low, keep regulations at a minimum, keep our markets open, and keep in place the litigation reform we passed, our economy will continue to flourish. I believe that tax cut for small businesses and working Americans, making sure the federal reserve has a strong monetary policy, being competitive in a global economy, and continuing to balance the federal budget will help us continue to grow" - Elizabeth Dole

"The biggest challenge facing Americans in the election of 1996 was the economy. As has been said, we are growing and if I'm elected President, we'll continue to grow with a flat tax and a de-regulation of our energy sector. But, the challenge of the election of 2000 is, morally, what will America look like in the year 2005? I believe that promoting family and traditional values, we will restore the America we've all grown to know and love. I believe that we must protect human life, preserve marriage as an institution between one man and one woman, and we have to get filth off the internet in our schools and public libraries. The sanctity of the American family will not only preserve the moral fiber of this nation, but it will keep the American workforce the best educated and productive" - Dan Quayle

"I think the issue of education is the defining issue of this campaign. In New York, we created a bill of rights for all students and increased funding for special classrooms for special learners. Local aid to education increased 17% while I was Governor, and we established opportunities for high school students to learn at our public colleges. We also increased scholarship opportunities for those colleges. As President, I will pursue a bill of rights for students and increased opportunities for scholarships. I'll fight for a more flexible curriculum at the federal level. I disagree with Governor Quayle on eliminating the Department of Education, I simply support more local control but we still need basic standards. I'm pleased to see our test scores improve to historic levels, but while 85% of schools in America have seen improvement, 15% have remained flat or have seen their test scores reduced. My view is that we need to rethink education at the federal level, not expand the role of the federal government in education as the Democrats want us to" - George Pataki

[dudeabides]

September 17, 2003 - Former President Jerry Brown backs Dick Gephardt in presidential bid

DES MOINES, IA - Former President Jerry Brown endorsed House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt in his bid for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. "Dick Gephardt is the candidate in this race most committed to ending the unfair trade agreements which ships jobs overseas, and he is the candidate in this race committed to funding public education and infrastructure projects. In the end, I have the most confidence in Dick Gephardt to beat the Republicans in 2004" Brown stated.

September 27, 2003 - Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate

"I'm running for President of the United States because I believe I best represent the values of the Democratic Party. Over the last decade, I have fought for the values of our party in congress - I supported the expansion in medicaid, raising the minimum wage, funding for education and environmental cleanup, and campaign finance reform. I opposed the implementation of NAFTA and Tom Kean's tax cuts for the well to do in our society. As President, I'll reverse NAFTA and bring jobs back to America. I'll repeal the President's tax breaks for the rich and provide health care to every American. I'll raise our minimum wage and stand up for worker's rights globally. I'll stop Tom Kean and JC Watts in their assault on public education and fund smaller class sizes and merit pay for teachers, as well as student loans for the poorest kids who want to go to college. I'm running for President because I believe it's time we restore the promise of America for all of our people" - Dick Gephardt

"The reason I entered politics was because I have a conviction that to fix what's wrong, we must do what is right. For more than two decades, I've taken on the gun lobby, big tobacco, and the big polluters. I not only fought for the medicaid expansion, I helped write the law. I also wrote the law which got the Republicans to join with us in extending environmental cleanup funding. I'm the only candidate on this stage who supported, on a bi-partsian basis, a constitutional amendment balancing the budget. My plan for this country does include a balance budget. I propose we use the surplus to pay down the debt, invest in education and more police in our streets, and I think we should create new tax incentives for research and development of green technologies to fight global warming. I believe we should reverse the tax cuts on capital gains above $300,000 and use that money to provide health insurance for every American child. We Democrats aren't going to win by believing in the big government policies which dominated our party in the 1960s and 1970s. We are going to win by investing in our communities and allowing local folks to do more, by combating global warming, and by paying down our national debt" - Al Gore

"I categorically reject Al Gore's assertion that we abandon the principles of our party. He certainly abandoned those principles when he went behind closed doors and supported this President's tax breaks for the rich and his health care plan which hasn't helped millions of Americans have access to health insurance. As for Mr. Gephardt, he said the idea of universal health care was unrealistic, and he voted for President Reagan's budget cuts in medicaid and food stamps, then voted with this President in supporting litigation reform which has let Wall Street run wild. I plan on repealing the Wall Street tort reform bill the President passed, I plan on fighting to tie the minimum wage to inflation, and let's provide health insurance to every single American. I don't believe we Democrats must pander to voters, I think if we level with the American people about our nation's long term challenges, they will give us a mandate to meet those challenges" - Ted Kennedy

"The question for us Democrats is not which one of us is the most ideologically pure or who has the most experience, all of us are Democrats and we all have unique experience. The question comes down to who can beat the Republicans. I have spent the last part of six months going to Iowa, New Hampshire, and elsewhere explaining to folks the Republican agenda. They want to pass another round of tax cuts, cut funding for family clinics, privatize social security, and restrict access to health care. We have seen evidence of this in congress and in the rhetoric they use on the campaign trail. I have put forth a positive agenda which includes a promise to cover every American with health care through subsidies and allowing folks to pool together, I've called for a 30% flat tax on incomes above $250,000 per year, and I've called for a full repeal of this President's medicare prescription drug program because it's nothing but a give away to the pharmaceutical industry. Let's provide everyone with health care, pay down the debt, and then our country will be on a path towards even better days ahead. But, to win, we first have to expose the Republicans and thus far, I'm the only candidate in this race who has done just that" - Jay Rockefeller

"I'm the only person on this stage who hasn't spent a single day working in Washington D.C. In Iowa, I brought Republicans and Democrats together to make historic investments in our highways, and we gave tax relief to our farmers since this President cut tax cuts for farmers by 82%. Where Tom Kean didn't come through, I succeeded. This election is about making up for lost time. It's time to again invest in farmers, in our infrastructure, in education, and in adding more police to our streets. These past years have been an era of prosperity without a purpose. Just last year, Al Gore said he believed that this President had done a good job overall. We have failed to invest in our people under this President, and to have a Democratic nominee say otherwise is wrong for our party. Let me make this clear: Elizabeth Dole is running for Tom Kean's third term, I'm running because I know this President has fallen short of the hype and the hope of the 1996 election. Too many on this stage have stood with the President time and time again at moments they should have been critical of his policies. With all due respect to Mr. Gephardt, he voted with this President more than all but 12 Democrats in congress. I publicly and privately challenged this President on funding for a variety of programs and his medicare reform plan, I believe I'm the best person here to move our party forward" - Tom Vilsack

"There seems to be a lot of finger pointing on this stage, I'm all about governing. In Arkansas, I fought for a higher minimum wage, we cut our state's payroll tax on the working poor by 80%, and I not only balanced the budget, but reduced state debt by a third. As Jerry Brown's Secretary of Education, I led the fight for the largest expansion of pell grants in history of that program so more than 1.7 million kids could go to college. I believe we need to double that program over the next five years. We need to create private-public partnerships for more scholarships and worker re-training programs. We also have work to do in K-12 education. First, we need to raise standards, especially in the areas of math, reading, and science. We should reward successful districts, but force failing districts to hire new management for their schools. It's been done in half a dozen states, and in more cases than not, it's worked. Education is key to the future, and I plan on being the education President. But, we have work to do in other areas as well. We need to connect rural communities with internet access, we need to improve our infrastructure, and it's time we pay down the national debt in full. I'm confident our country will achieve great things in the next decade, and I hope to lead us in that direction for these next eight years" - Bill Clinton

[Bigby]

Why does Gephardt look so creepy in that image? It must be the quality.

[dudeabides]

Why does Gephardt look so creepy in that image? It must be the quality.

Not sure haha

October 4, 2003 - Primary turns ugly as negative tv ad buys appear in Iowa, New Hampshire

DOVER, NH - Three presidential campaigns have purchased negative tv spots on Iowa and New Hampshire airwaves. Governor of Indiana Dan Quayle purchased his third tv buy of the 2004 campaign season. The ad contrasts himself with Vice President Elizabeth Dole. The ad accuses Dole of supporting borrowing to pay for upgrades to the interstate highway system as Secretary of Transportation, then accuses Dole of not taking a position on abortion or gun control during the 2004 primary season. "Elizabeth Dole has refused to take positions on key issues such as abortion and gun control during this campaign season, and when confronted, staffers of hers said they'd get back to the voters. That's not acceptable, nor is it conservative" Quayle told an audience in Iowa at a townhall when asked about the ad. On the Democratic side, the campaigns of Ted Kennedy and Dick Gephardt each bought tv space attacking opponents. Kennedy's tv spot highlighted efforts by both Gephardt and Al Gore in working with the Kean administration. Specifically, Kennedy attacked the pair of joining with Tom Kean in supporting a balanced budget amendment and social security reform. Kennedy's spot told voters that Kean's balanced budget amendment was unconstitutional and gave the Republicans an excuse to "end social security and medicare as we know it." Dick Gephardt bought an ad showing Gore's previous positions on abortion, gun control, and taxes. Gore had been pro-life until changing his position in the 1990s. He also had a good relationship with the NRA through the 1980s before supporting a ban on assault weapons. Gore had opposed the Reagan tax cuts, but voted for the Kean tax cuts.

October 15, 2003 - Bush's divided in '04 primary as Bush Sr. backs Quayle, Jeb endorses Dole, W undecided

WASHINGTON, DC - Former Vice President George Bush, the 1988 Republican Presidential Nominee, endorsed his 1988 running-mate in the 2004 presidential race, Governor of Indiana Dan Quayle, during a press conference in Washington D.C. "Dan Quayle has the experience to lead our country" Bush said of Quayle. But while the Former Vice President and wife Barbra were on board, the two other elected officials in his family were not sold on Quayle. Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, supports Elizabeth Dole for President. "The fact is, when I look at the field of candidates, I see three friends of mine. I'm supporting Elizabeth Dole for President because I think she has the ability to unite the country, and she is a proven leader" Bush said of Dole. Meanwhile, Congressman George W. Bush of Texas said he would endorse whomever Governor of Texas Kay Bailey Hutchison supported. This was surprising considering Hutchison beat Bush 51%-48% in the 1994 GOP primary for Governor before Bush's first election to the U.S. House in 1998. "I like all of the candidates, but I'll wait and see who the Governor supports and I'll respect her choice" Bush stated.

October 23, 2003 - In big boost for the Dole campaign, Kean endorses Dole for President

WASHINGTON, DC - President Tom Kean declared his support for Vice President Elizabeth Dole to be his successor as President of the United States. "Be it passing a constitutional balanced budget amendment, historic health care reform, or preserving medicare and social security, I could always count on Elizabeth Dole for guidance and leadership during her tenure as Vice President. I am confident that she will use the great prosperity of this era to do great things. Elizabeth Dole is simply the best candidate for President in 2004" the President said of Dole.

November 17, 2003 - Al Gore speaks to critics in address

LANSING, MI - Senate Minority Leader Al Gore gave an address in which he spoke about his presidential agenda, but also tried to answer attacks he faced from his detractors. "My presidency will be about balance. Balancing the budget, investing in social security, medicare, the environment, health care, education, and paying down the debt" Gore stated. "Let me be clear. I believe we Democrats are in the minority because we have become too ideological. I have taken on the Republicans on issues such as overhauling medicaid, privatizing social security, cutting food stamps, and giving tax subsidies for corporations. But, I have also worked with our friends on the other side in continuing to fund environmental cleanup, to balance the federal budget, and for greater accountability in education"

December 1, 2003 – Pataki campaign focuses heavily on NH, independents

MANCHESTER, NH – Governor of New York George Pataki has spent much of the 2004 pre-primary season running to the left of both Vice President Elizabeth Dole and Governor of Indiana Dan Quayle in his quest for the 2004 Republican Presidential Nomination. Pataki emphasized increasing the number of urban enterprise zones, promoting free trade in Latin America, increasing Internet access in rural communities, and making sure the budget surplus was not all spent as top priorities of his. “I don’t think investing in our poorest communities through tax credits as opposed to social welfare and making sure rural communities have internet access in order to see economic growth via the web are liberal ideas, I think they are common sense” Pataki told a New Hampshire audience. Pataki said he was the only Republican running for President with a new message. “If we want to run as the party of the status-quo, we will narrowly lose because it shows we have no new ideas, I will run on this President’s record, but I propose a real vision for the future” he added. Pataki’s message is one with appeal to independent voters and unlike his opponents in the primary, Pataki is trying to win over independents. Pataki is running heavily in New Hampshire, which neighbors his native New York. The campaign pulled out of Iowa early on and while they have made some tv ad buys in Michigan, New Hampshire is where team Pataki is focused most heavily.

December 14, 2003 – Gore blunt on "60 Minutes"

DES MOINES, IA –In an often candid interview with 60 Minutes, Senate Minority Leader Al Gore said that he was more confident of victory in 2004 than he had been during his failed 1988 and 2000 presidential bids. “The big mistake I made in 1988 was that I ran without a clear message, I ran against Ronald Reagan and George Bush but not for anything. In 2000, I corrected that mistake, but I didn’t try and win over the grassroots. This year, I have a lot of grassroots support. In fact, we have polling showing that amongst those who voted for Tom Harkin over me in 2000, I am tied with Dick Gephardt in my effort to win their votes. Another thing, I decided to run in 2000 knowing I was in an uphill battle during a general election. This year, I’m confident I have the ability to win based on experience and also, my record of bi-partisanship in Washington” Gore stated. Gore also spoke about his “flip-flops” on issues where his opponents attacked him. “When I ran for Congress, I told people I was personally pro-life and believed that abortion should not be legal, I have since come to the conclusion that regardless of one’s personal beliefs, as a matter of public policy, a woman has a right to not only privacy, but to make decisions about her own body. So, in 1997, I came to the realization that I believe in that right to choose as a matter of policy. It was actually an article written by Former Governor Mario Cuomo which changed my mind, he said that no woman should be at the mercy of a politician, and I felt that I agreed with what he said in May of 1997” Gore added. Gore also addressed criticism he flip-flopped on gun control and taxes. “I have answered this multiple times. I voted for the President’s tax cut because it delievered the largest tax relief in history for those earning below $75,000. Small businesses and medium sized firms saw their taxes reduced. I tried to get the President to scrap the capital gains tax cut, and I proposed a smaller reduction for the very rich. In the end, the Republicans in Congress agreed with both the President and myself actually to eliminate, for the wealthiest Americans, writing off above $7,000 in local property taxes towards federal income taxes, and we closed a number of other deductions the President supported, but some Republicans opposed. I think we got a good deal, but I still want to repeal the tax relief for the very rich. On the issue of gun control, I don’t see how my view has changed either, I have always supported a ban on assault weapons, I simply was not co-sponsoring such legislation until 1991” Gore said.

[dudeabides]

December 18, 2003 - Pataki courts Independents, moderates ahead of New Hampshire Primary, wins backing of Christie Todd Whitman & Tom Ridge

DOVER, NH - After winning the support of Former Governors Tom Ridge (R-PA) and Christie Whitman (R-NJ), Republican Presidential Hopeful George Pataki continued to court independent voters and moderate Republicans ahead of New Hampshire's January 14 primary. "In New York, the tax cuts we implemented, the open space we preserved, the schools we increased funding and raised standards for, and the economic development we worked on were things done on a bi-partisian basis. I hope that I can go to Washington and work with Democrats and Republicans alike to close the achievement gap in education, invest in infrastructure and economic development, and pay down the national debt without raising taxes so we can do the people's work in Washington" Pataki has been telling New Hampshire voters.

January 2, 2003 - Al Gore Vs. Dick Gephardt in Iowa

DES MOINES, IA - Despite being Governor Tom Vilsack's home state, recent polling has shown a virtual tie between Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Al Gore and Dick Gephardt in Iowa. Both candidates, especially Gephardt, have invested heavily in Iowa, more so than other early states. Expected to win South Carolina without much of a challenge, Al Gore has shifted his resources to Iowa, where he has been agressive in pushing back against attacks from the Gephardt campaign. "My friend Dick Gephardt's attack ads show that he is desperate, but come January 7, we are going to send a message that Democrats need to stop fighting each other and focus on winning elections again" Gore told one Iowa crowd. For his part, Gephardt, trailing Gore in national polls and in fundraising, attacked Gore on a host of issues. "Al Gore has supported the Kean tax cuts for the wealthy, NAFTA which has benefited the largest American corporations, cuts to public housing and he even supported the House Republican plan on social security, which has resulted in benefit cuts for over 7 million middle income Americans. It seems as if Al Gore is running in the wrong party for President" Gephardt has stated.

January 7, 2004 - Iowa Caucus: Dole, Gephardt claim victory, Vilsack exits presidential race

GOP
Elizabeth Dole 49%
Dan Quayle 30%
George Pataki 19%

DEM
Dick Gephardt 28%
Al Gore 28%
Tom Vilsack 19%
Ted Kennedy 12%
Bill Clinton 10%
Jay Rockefeller 2%

January 10, 2004 - N.H. Union Leader: Pataki, Gore for 2004

"In the race to succeed Tom Kean, the Republicans have three clear choice. Dan Quayle has the necessary experience that he lacked as George Bush's running-mate in 1988. He is now a more seasoned politician than he was then. However, he has also become more ideological and polarizing since 1988. Elizabeth Dole can run on the popularity of the current administration. Of all the candidates, she has the most impressive resume. But, Ms. Dole hasn't given voters a reason to support her, other than she is Tom Kean's Vice President. Then, there is George Pataki. A Governor for the last decade, Pataki has a reputation as a bi-partisian leader in New York. He has presided over historic investments in economic development and educational excellence in that state. Mr. Pataki is running the least ideological campaign of the three GOP candidates. He has our endorsement because he is running as someone who can bring the nation together" - New Hampshire Union Leader endorsement of George Pataki for the Republican Presidential Nomination

"In the political wilderness for last eight years, we believe Democrats need to transform their party to one which can again govern. In our opinion, both Senators Kennedy and Rockefeller represent the Democratic Party which lost in a landslide in 2000. They have recycled ideas from an era which has come and gone. Bill Clinton, on the other hand, wants to change the Democratic Party from a progressive party, to one which is center-right. We do not believe this is helpful in a two-party system. The two major contenders for the Democratic Presidential Nomination are Dick Gephardt and Al Gore. Mr. Gephardt won our endorsement in the 1988 presidential race. At that time, we cited his willingness to be independent when necessary. Today, to our disappointment, Mr. Gephardt has become increasingly partisan and unwilling to work with President Tom Kean. By contrast, Mr. Gore has become a pragmatist focused on results. In 1988, we stated that Al Gore was overly partisan and unseasoned. In 2000, we gave Senator Gore our endorsement. We do so again this year for the same reasons we did in 2004. Mr. Gore is simply the candidate who wants to govern as opposed to playing politics. He has been an effective leader on important issues ranging from education to the environment and campaign finance reform. He has our endorsement again in 2004" - New Hampshire Union Leader endorsement of Al Gore for the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination

[dudeabides]

January 14, 2004 - New Hampshire Primary: Pataki upsets Dole, Gore beats Gephardt

GOP
George Pataki 37%
Elizabeth Dole 35%
Dan Quayle 27%

DEM
Al Gore 33%
Dick Gephardt 26%
Ted Kennedy 20%
Bill Clinton 10%
Jay Rockefeller 9%

January 17, 2004 - Rockefeller withdrawals

WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) exited the presidential race

January 21, 2004 - Dole, Gore win South Carolina

GOP
Elizabeth Dole 47%
Dan Quayle 30%
George Pataki 22%

DEM
Al Gore 41%
Dick Gephardt 30%
Ted Kennedy 20%
Bill Clinton 8%

January 23, 2004 - Dole reclaims front-runner status

LANSING, MI - After placing second in New Hampshire's primary, some in GOP circles doubted Elizabeth Dole's position as the true GOP front-runner in the race for President. But a decisive win in South Carolina changed that, and Dole capitalized on that change. "The voters of this country want a candidate, and a President, who is committed to using the surplus to preserve medicare and social security, cut taxes, fund the military, and pay down our national debt" Dole told Michigan Republicans. Dole reclaimed her status as the GOP front-runner. "When we face the Democrats this fall, we will offer a stark contrast. The Democrats are proposing government-run health care, a tax increase on business, and Al Gore's plan only pays down the debt by $100 billion over a decade, our plan brings it down by $1 trillion in the same time period. Al Gore doesn't propose one penny of tax relief, I propose $250 billion in tax cuts over the next three years" Dole added.

January 25, 2004 - NAFTA politics takes shape in Michigan again

DETROIT, MI - Ahead of Michigan's presidential primary, House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt again voiced his opposition to NAFTA and promised to repeal the free trade agreement if elected President. "Michigan has lost manufacturing jobs, our entire country has lost manufacturing jobs, as a direct result of NAFTA, which Al Gore supported and I opposed" Gephardt told supporters. Gephardt promised a "revitalization" of manufacturing and increased protectionism if elected President. Senator Ted Kennedy agreed with Gephardt, arguing for "free and fair" trade. Bill Clinton remained silent on NAFTA. Senate Minority Whip Al Gore, an early proponent of NAFTA, defended the agreement as "creating high waged jobs." On the Republican side of the aisle, all three candidates voiced support for NAFTA, though both Mr. Pataki and Mr. Quayle said they would do more to enforce parts of NAFTA not being enforced.

[dudeabides]

January 27, 2004 - Michigan Primary: Dole, Gore claim victory


GOP
Elizabeth Dole 49%
Dan Quayle 25%
George Pataki 25%

DEM
Al Gore 37%
Richard Gephardt 36%
Ted Kennedy 20%
Bill Clinton 6%

February 1, 2004 - Bill Clinton ends presidential bid, endorses Al Gore

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Bill Clinton ended his 2004 presidential bid and endorsed Al Gore for President, calling Al Gore "a new kind of Democrat people can rally behind."

February 2, 2004 - GOP candidates debate ahead of Super Tuesday


"Here is the truth about my campaign. My campaign is about ensuring that the prosperity we enjoy today is sustained. 16 million Americans have found work in the last eight years, a record. Taxes on the ordinary American have been cut by a quarter, welfare rolls are down, crime is down, educational test scores are up, and we have a budget surplus. What's next? My answer is, we should reduce taxes on workers and small and medium sized businesses, pay down the national debt, pay into medicare and social security, and fund our military. I take these priorities and invest in them while paying down debt and without raising taxes" - Elizabeth Dole

"The Vice President believes that the status-quo in Washington D.C. is acceptable. I believe we should throw out our current tax code and replace it with a 15% flat tax, protect innocent human life, and abolish the Department of Education. It's time for less government and more individual freedom in the United States of America. There is no question that we live in an era of great prosperity. But, to use this moment to accept the status-quo does not serve a greater purpose. In Indiana, I have reduced taxes and protected human life. I have used this moment for the last three years to bring about conservative policies in my home state, following my career in Washington where I was outspoken on the pro-life position, appointing conservative judges, and protecting family values as well as free trade and good paying jobs" - Dan Quayle

"The three of us on this stage must ensure we can continue the coalition of President Reagan in 1980 and 1984, as well as President Kean in the last two election cycles. I built a similar coalition during my three runs for Governor of New York, one of the most liberal states in America. In fact, I performed better in 1998 and 2002 in New York than both President Reagan and President Kean did in their presidential bids. I cut taxes, protected open space, fought for higher standards in education, and fought for good economic development practices in rural and inner-city communities. I want to bring my results-oriented record in New York to Washington to save our schools and create jobs in those communities which have been left behind in this great era of wealth and prosperity" - George Pataki

"I want to make this point clear because no matter how I've answered this question in seven debates, Governor Quayle continues to deny that I'm being straight with the American people. I am a social conservative. I am pro-life and believe that human life should be protected. I believe that state's should decide the issue of same-sex marriage, but personally I believe in marriage between one man and one woman. As President, I will appoint judges who interpret the constitution of the United States, and these judges will likely be pro-life and for the rights of states" - Elizabeth Dole

"Once again, the Vice President has declined to say that she will appoint pro-life judges, that's a commitment I made to the American people during my campaign in 1996, I feel just as strongly about this now as I did then. I believe in the sanctity of human life, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe in conservative judges. I'm the family values candidate in this race. I joined with Rick Santorum in fighting for the ban on partial-birth abortion, and I was the one who encouraged Tom Kean to appoint one of the best pro-life judges in America to the federal bench in 1997" - Dan Quayle

"I personally am opposed to abortion, I think that human life is precious. But, to me, this is a question of a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body. I don't believe the government should tell a woman what she can or can't do with her own body. Therefore, as President, I will support judges who are strict constructionists, but being pro-life is not a litmus test in my mind. I actually do support over turning Roe V. Wade though because this is an issue which should be decided at the state level, not at the Supreme Court" - George Pataki

"I respect Governor Pataki and consider him a friend. The same with Governor Quayle. I simply believe that I have the record, the experience, and the vision to lead our country. I have spent time in the private sector, in the practice of law, as a department head under President Reagan, as the head of a non-profit, and as Vice President of the United States during a time when we have seen the creation of 16 million jobs, rising incomes, declining welfare rolls, and budget surpluses. I think my vision for the future of making sure we keep taxes low, keep our country safe, ensure that we meet our obligations to our seniors, and passing down a debt free nation is the best course for us to take as a country moving forward" - Elizabeth Dole

"There is no question but that the Vice President is a successful and intelligent individual. Governor Pataki has defied the odds to get to where he is today. But, the question for Republicans has to be, which one of us is the conservative in the race for President? I have a consistent conservative record during my career in Washington and in Indiana. I have an A rating from the NRA, I have a 100% pro-life voting record, and I never got less than a 92% rating from the national taxpayers union while in congress. My friend George Pataki supports abortion, gun control, and affirmative action, I take a different view. The Vice President refuses to commit to nominating pro-life justices and supports the federal government being involved in education. I'm the true conservative in this race for President" - Dan Quayle

"Dan Quayle and Elizabeth Dole are principled individuals who have accomplished a lot. But, I have the very best chance of winning this election. We Republicans must reach out to independents and Democrats. We should always be a party that believes in lower taxes and a strong national defense, but we must also be the party of the environment and of helping those communities which have been left behind during the economic growth of the last eight years. I propose we invest in infrastructure and encourage economic development through pro-growth tax policies to help encourage job growth in rural and inner-city communities. I also think we need to raise standards in education and increase funding for special needs students. We have to do this gradually and while paying down the debt, which will require fiscal discipline and tough choices" - George Pataki

[dudeabides]

February 7, 2004 - Super Tuesday Votes

GOP
Ohio - Dole 57% Quayle 23% Pataki 19%
Kentucky - Dole 61% Quayle 30% Pataki 8%
New Jersey - Dole 47% Pataki 30% Quayle 22%
Vermont - Pataki 40% Dole 39% Quayle 20%
Missouri - Dole 42% Quayle 30% Pataki 27%
Tennessee - Dole 55% Quayle 30% Pataki 14%
Arkansas - Dole 60% Quayle 30% Pataki 9%
Georgia - Dole 45% Quayle 30% Pataki 24%
Washington - Dole 60% Pataki 30% Quayle 9%
Utah - Dole 67% Quayle 22% Pataki 10%
Colorado - Dole 44% Quayle 30% Pataki 25%
Minnesota - Dole 40% Pataki 37% Quayle 22%

DEM
Ohio - Gephardt 40% Gore 39% Kennedy 20%
Kentucky - Gore 62% Gephardt 30% Kennedy 7%
New Jersey - Gore 50% Gephardt 37% Kennedy 12%
Vermont - Gore 40% Kennedy 39% Gephardt 19%
Missouri - Gephardt 67% Gore 23% Kennedy 9%
Tennessee - Gore 71% Gephardt 20% Kennedy 8%
Arkansas - Gore 62% Gephardt 30% Kennedy 6%
Georgia - Gore 50% Gephardt 40% Kennedy 9%
Washington - Gore 42% Gephardt 35% Kennedy 22%
Utah - Gore 44% Gephardt 40% Kennedy 15%
Colorado - Gore 40% Gephardt 38% Kennedy 21%
Minnesota - Gephardt 42% Gore 30% Kennedy 17%

Dan Quayle exits presidential race, endorses Elizabeth Dole for President

ATLANTA, GA - Governor of Indiana Dan Quayle ended his 2004 presidential campaign after failing to win a single contest on Super Tuesday. Quayle endorsed Elizabeth Dole for President, calling Dole "the best candidate to win in the fall and govern the nation."

February 12, 2004 - Ted Kennedy exits presidential race

BOSTON, MA - Senator Ted Kennedy announced the end of his 2004 presidential campaign.

February 14, 2004 - Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oregon vote

GOP
Wisconsin - Dole 62% Pataki 35%
Kansas - Dole 82% Pataki 15%
Nebraska - Dole 65% Pataki 30%
Oregon - Dole 55% Pataki 44%

DEM
Wisconsin - Gore 50% Gephardt 49%
Kansas - Gephardt 55% Gore 44%
Nebraska - Gore 51% Gephardt 48%
Oregon - Gore 57% Gephardt 42%

February 15, 2004 - George Pataki ends presidential bid, endorses Elizabeth Dole

ALBANY, NY - Governor of New York George Pataki ended his 2004 presidential bid and endorsed Elizabeth Dole as the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for President. "Elizabeth Dole has earned this nomination through her hard work and determination. She is an experienced leader with a vision for the future, and she has my vote" Pataki stated.

Elizabeth Dole secures 2004 Republican Presidential Nomination

"For the last eight years, we have presided over a period of unprecedented prosperity and renewed security. I'm proud to have been part of an administration which has promoted the hopes and aspirations of all Americans. Today, this country is better off than it was eight years ago. The question now becomes, will we be better off in eight years from now, and I believe we will be if we commit to using this period of prosperity to achieve greatness. We will use the surplus to cut your taxes, pay down the national debt, pay into medicare and social security, and keep the American military the best equipped and strongest in the world. We will safeguard the prosperity we presently enjoy not by believing in bigger government as our friends in the Democratic Party do, but by believing in the spirit of free markets, free people, and government which is accountable, effective, and above all else, limited" - Vice President Elizabeth Dole, victory speech after securing the 2004 Republican Presidential Nomination

[Bigby]

Has Kennedy endorsed anyone after he quit?

[dudeabides]

Has Kennedy endorsed anyone after he quit?

Not yet, no.

February 17, 2004 - Ahead of "Mini Tuesday" Gore, Gephardt debate

"In contests across the United States of America, voters have considered my experience and my record of accomplishment, which is why I have been winning and why I believe I will be our party's nominee for President. I have more foreign policy experience than the other two candidates combined, having served in Vietnam, having been the ranking member of the armed services committee for five years, and having spent the last decade on the foreign relations committee. I have also fought for environmental cleanup, expanding medicaid so we could cover 7 million Americans with health insurance, and I fought for the balanced budget amendment to the constitution. I believe that I am best prepared to lead our country" - Al Gore

"Both Senator Gore and I have been in leadership positions in our party. The difference is, I've stood up for our Democratic values where as my friend has wavered. Senator Gore voted for NAFTA, for the Kean tax cuts for Wall Street, for raising the social security retirement age, for legislation which makes it harder for folks to claim damages in courtrooms across the nation, and for the 1997 budget which cut funding for housing vouchers for the homeless, drug prevention programs for our schools, funding for the arts, and funding for national parks. I have held the line, I fought NAFTA as long as I could and fought to raise the federal minimum wage and create provisions in federal law to enforce unfair trade agreements, that's the difference between us" - Dick Gephardt

"Let me address Dick Gephardt's constant criticism of me. He's been attacking me on these sorts of issues since October and the voters have rejected his message. I opposed the President in areas where the interests of ordinary people were at stake, specifically I have opposed 98% of his judicial appointments and his health care law which didn't expand coverage for anyone. But, I also worked with him to get things done. The tax relief I supported was the largest middle and lower income tax relief in history. The 1997 budget I supported avoided a $250 billion budget gap, Congressman Gephardt opposed closing that gap. I worked with Tom Kean in fighting to fund environmental cleanup and yes, I worked with him for a balanced budget amendment because the American people deserve a government that lives within it's means. I worked with the administration to add 40 years to the life of social security. We must always stand up for our values, but we must also work with those on the other side of the aisle in order to govern, and I've done that" - Al Gore

"We are forgetting that hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their jobs to overseas competition because of unfair trade agreements which have shipped jobs overseas. Many have taken jobs with less pay in an effort to make ends meet. We are not enforcing NAFTA and several other trade agreements. We aren't enforcing trade with China, they are manipulating our currency and giving us a raw deal on trade. I'm committed to enforcing unfair trade deals and reversing those deals, such as NAFTA, which were poorly negotiated in the first place. For roughly a decade, I prevented NAFTA from becoming a treaty we entered into. One of the reasons I'm running for President is to reverse NAFTA and bring good jobs back to America" - Dick Gephardt

"The reason Democrats lost the 2000 election was because we ran the same old campaign. Our party has to be a party that believes in investing in education, health care, and the environment. But, we must also be the party that believes in fiscal responsibility. I have said that I'll use the surplus to provide health care to every child in America and invest in education to ensure that we have smaller class sizes and more funding for special needs students. I'll also pay into social security and medicare while paying down the national debt. Elizabeth Dole doesn't dedicate one penny to health care, education, or the environment and I believe that is a mistake" - Al Gore

"The Democratic Party lost the 2000 election because we failed to rally the base of our party. 25% of Democrats supported President Kean's re-election. We failed to give Democrats a reason to support us. I'm giving our base a reason to support me in 2004. We need to have fair trade, we need to raise the minimum wage, and we need to expand access to health insurance to ensure everyone is covered. I also offer Americans a clear contrast between myself and the Republicans. The Republicans support tax breaks for Wall Street, free trade beneficial to large corporations, and a legal system which allows the very rich to not be held accountable. While Senator Gore has supported their policies, I've opposed them every step of the way" - Dick Gephardt

February 21, 2004 - Mini Tuesday: Gore wins 4 of 6 contests

Alaska - Gore 61% Gephardt 37%
North Dakota - Gephardt 50% Gore 49%
Illinois - Gore 51% Gephardt 48%
Florida - Gore 53% Gephardt 46%
Delaware - Gore 67% Gephardt 32%
West Virginia - Gephardt 55% Gore 44%


February 28, 2004 - Gore wins Texas, Idaho Primaries

Texas - Gore 59% Gephardt 40%
Idaho - Gore 66% Gephardt 33%

March 1, 2004 - Dick Gephardt exits presidential race

WASHINGTON, DC - Democratic House Leader Dick Gephardt exited the 2004 presidential race and formally endorsed Al Gore for President. "Al Gore has the courage of his convictions" Gephardt said of Gore.

Al Gore secures 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination

"Our message is resonating with the American people. The people of this country want a President with the experience to lead, and they want all of our citizens to enjoy the great prosperity of this moment. Nobody doubts that the last eight years have provided us with unprecedented economic prosperity and a renewed sense of security. The challenge for us now becomes, what next? I believe we must continue to pay down the national debt and keep taxes on working families low. But, we also need to use our resources to invest in health care, education, the environment, and meet our commitments to our seniors and veterans. My campaign is about moving our country forward, that's what Democrats and independents voted for, and that's what I plan on offering the American people this fall" - Senate Minority Whip Al Gore accepting victory as the presumptive Democratic nominee for President

March 23, 2004 - Poll: Gore leads Dole

Al Gore 48%
Elizabeth Dole 45%


April 19, 2004 – Kean speaks out on Iraq during prime time address in response to WMD report

WASHINGTON, DC – President Tom Kean declared that Saddam Hussein was “not complying with international law” after “six years of dodging weapons inspectors.” A new report out showed that Saddam had the capacity to build WMD at any time. Kean asked congress for the authority to use force if necessary. However, Kean stated that, “It is premature and unwise to state whether or not we will commit troops to Iraq.”

May 15, 2004 – Dole gives speech, contrasts herself with Gore

“This election offers Americans a clear choice and a stark contrast of ideas and priorities. I’ll use the surplus for four things. First, I will reduce taxes on workers and small and medium sized businesses. Those making below $90,000 will see their payroll taxes reduced in half. Then, I’ll tax the 10% tax on small and medium sized businesses and bring it down to 8% by the year 2008. I’ll make larger payments into social security and medicare than at anytime since 1970. I’ll then use the rest of the surplus to pay down the national debt, we’ll reduce the debt by $1 trillion by the year 2015. Compare this with Al Gore’s vision. He proposes payments into social security and medicare a third of what we paid in last year. His plan reduces the debt by just $300 billion over a decade. He uses the remaining money for a government-run health care scheme, and education funding despite the fact we have already increased education funding from $42 billion in 1997 to $57 billion this year. Al Gore offers no new tax relief and more government spending, that’s not the right priorities for America” – Republican Presidential Hopeful Elizabeth Dole

June 25, 2004 – Brown backs Gore in presidential bid

SACRAMENTO, CA – Former President Jerry Brown officially endorsed Al Gore’s 2004 presidential bid. “Al Gore has been a champion of public education, of veteran’s health care, and of a foreign policy consistent with our values throughout his entire career” Brown said of Gore.

[dudeabides]

July 15, 2004 – Dole picks Hutchison for Vice President

AUSTIN, TX – Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee Elizabeth Dole made history in selecting Former Governor of Texas Kay Bailey Hutchison as her running-mate in the 2004 presidential election. “Kay Bailey Hutchison is an experienced leader who will be a part of my team to sustain the growth and opportunity we enjoy at this moment in history” Dole said of Hutchison. Hutchison served as a Texas State Treasurer before her election as Governor of Texas in 1994, where she was re-elected  in 1998 before leaving office in January of 2003.

July 27, 2004 – Gore picks Lincoln as running-mate
[/img]
RICHMOND, VA – Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Al Gore selected Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas as his running-mate in the 2004 presidential election. “Blanche Lincoln will bring common sense and vision to the white house. She represents the best of America, and I trust her to be an effective Vice President. Lincoln served 1993-1999 as a Congresswoman and is serving her first term in the U.S. Senate.

August 14, 2004 – Senator Blanche Lincoln accepts Democratic Vice Presidential Nomination

“Al Gore and I believe that we are living the dreams our founders envisioned for us more than two centuries ago. Americans have helped promote freedom and opportunity both here at home and abroad. The case we are making to the American people is not that the last eight years have been an era of failure, for that would be false. We are making the case that the next eight years can be even better and brighter than the previous eight. We believe that every child in America deserves good health insurance and a world class education. We believe that we must address the issue of global warming before it’s too late. We believe that economic development in communities not seeing the prosperity most of us see is necessary to compete in the future. We see an America which strives to do better. Our opponents have a different view. They are satisfied with the status-quo, they are fine with the way things are. They don’t want to challenge Americans to aim higher, but rather, they offer us recycled ideas from an era gone by. Our opponents believe that the work of our government is done, and that by cutting taxes and doing little else, we will all be better off. We can not accept the status-quo, we have to aim for the stars” – Sen. Blanche Lincoln

August 15, 2004 – Senate Minority Leader Al Gore accepts Democratic Presidential Nomination

“I stand before you here today as someone who is prepared to lead our country for the next eight years. I have spent the last 26 years in public service, dealing with every major public policy issue. I not only dealt with these issues, I’ve led on tough issues. During the course of my career, I learned how to build consensus and get things done. I fought for a minimum wage increase, expanding Medicaid so more Americans have access to health care, I fought for higher educational standards, I led the fight for a constitutional amendment to balance the budget, and I fought to fund environmental cleanup at the federal level. This election is about priorities. I have made the tough choices and fought on behalf of all Americans. My priorities will be preserving medicare and social security, paying down the debt, and investing in education, health care, and the environment. My plan makes these investments without budgetary gimmicks. My opponent has different priorities. She uses a third of the surplus for a tax cut without dedicating one new penny to health care, environmental protection, or the education of our children. I believe these times demand leadership that does what’s right, I know these times demand an experienced leader, and I know that together, we will move America forward” – Sen. Al Gore

August 24, 2004 – Former Gov. Kay Bailey Hutchison accepts Republican Vice Presidential Nomination

“All of us running for President and Vice President must run on our records. Vice President Dole led the fight for a constitutional amendment to balance the budget, the Kean tax cuts, the implementation of NAFTA, and for medicare reform which has helped reduce medicare premiums for the first time in the history of that program. In Texas, I reformed welfare, signed the largest capital gains tax reduction in state history, and I created the nation’s second largest school voucher program in my state. Elizabeth Dole and I will go to Washington determined to safeguard the enormous prosperity of the last eight years. We will make sure that taxes are kept low and reduced, that the budget is balanced and debt is paid down, we will strengthen our nation’s military, and we will invest in social security and medicare to meet our obligations to our seniors. Elizabeth Dole and I will continue President Kean’s economic policies which have led to the creation of 16 million new jobs and budget surpluses unmatched by any in history. Our opponents have a different agenda. They believe that the measure of success is measured by federal expenditures. They voted against health care reform, against regulatory reform, against off-shore drilling in Alaska, against Medicaid reform, and against school vouchers. Their vision for the future is one based on big government, ours is based on unleashing the power of the American people” – Fmr. Gov. Kay Bailey Hutchison 

August 25, 2004 – Vice President Elizabeth Dole accepts Republican Presidential Nomination

“Eight years ago, President Kean and I led a national movement to reform government and the policies which led to stagnation and decline in the years before we took office. Over these last eight years, we presided over the largest tax relief in American history, the first balanced budget in a generation, health care reform which has held costs down while insuring more Americans, comprehensive entitlement reform, and a rebuilding of the American military. The results of these policies have been made clear. 16 million new jobs, welfare rolls cut by more than half, surpluses for the last four years, rising family income, medicare premium reductions, and the lowest inflation in American history. These results are due to the hard work and determination of the American people. They are also the result of great stewardship from a historic President, Tom Kean. Over the next four years, I plan on being a good steward of the prosperity we have created together. I will use this historic moment in history to broaden prosperity for all Americans. We’ll cut taxes on the middle class and working Americans. We’ll provide tax relief for small and medium sized businesses. We will reduce the national debt by $1 trillion. We’ll invest in medicare and social security. We will continue to make sure America’s military and human intelligence communities are rebuilt to where they were under President Reagan. We Republicans, we Americans, believe that the best way to govern is by making sure that the federal government recognizes it’s role is to do a few things, to be effective in doing those things, and to leave most things up to the American people” – Vice President Elizabeth Dole

[dudeabides]

October 4, 2004 – Dole, Gore participate in first Presidential Debate

“In fiscal year 2006, we will have the largest projected surplus in history, $500 billion. I intend to evenly divide that surplus to go to tax relief, debt reduction, and making the largest payments into social security and medicare in our country’s history, $200 billion not towards current benefits, but towards future benefits. It’s sort of like a social security and medicare rainy-day fund. I want to make sure we reduce our debt and taxes while meeting our obligations to our seniors. My opponent believes that we should spend $450 billion of that surplus on new spending, I think that’s a mistake and it shows a difference in priorities” – Elizabeth Dole

“Vice President Dole knows full well that I want to help the 12 million Americans who aren’t eligible for Medicaid, but can’t afford their own health insurance, get that insurance. I want to help the 2.7 million children who do not have one health care provider or any health care at all under SCHIP. My plan calls for investing in smaller class sizes in education. I have called for investing in our infrastructure, the current administration hasn’t spent one new penny on that. We can do all of these, reduce the national debt, and pay into social security and medicare with the surplus. I believe in fiscal discipline, I broke with my party and supported a balanced budget amendment. But, I also believe in investing in those things which will help us grow long term” –Al Gore

“I think the best way to keep our economy growing is to keep taxes low and ensure that we don’t over regulate and over sue. The President and I fought for the tax relief we have today, as well as tort reform and regulatory reform, so we can see jobs created and we’ve added 16 million of them since we took office. I plan on giving workers and most businesses a tax cut to sustain the growth we have seen. I also believe that we need to encourage and expand free trade, especially with Latin America, so that we can see growth in the area of exports and those countries can become wealthier, which would solve part of the illegal immigration problem” – Elizabeth Dole

“I supported President Kean when he reduced taxes and I supported him when he enacted litigation reform. The Vice President and I both support many of the economic policies of the last eight years, but I don’t support all of them. I think the regulatory reform package the Vice President touts has helped Wall Street and has opened the door for even more money being shipped off-shore. I will reverse tax breaks for companies which ship our jobs overseas, that will help grow the economy. Additionally, I believe that we need to look at investing in green technology, which is why I support green energy tax credits which has the ability to create new jobs in a whole new sector” – Al Gore

“The central focus of my presidency will be to have good stewardship of our economy. I think that requires fiscal discipline and to resist the urge to spend on programs which we believe we can afford during a time of enormous growth and prosperity. I don’t believe the federal government should regulate and spend more as my opponent has admitted he supports here tonight. My record is such that I have always been fiscally disciplined in every area I’ve worked in, and I’ll continue that as President” – Elizabeth Dole

“I plan on being the President who helps those left behind, who saves our public schools, and who tries to reverse the tide of global warming. There are millions of Americans today who have found work and have seen their incomes rise, there is no doubt about it. There are also millions of Americans who have lost their health insurance and who are stuck in communities where jobs are leaving. Most of the wealth in the United States over the last eight years has been concentrated in suburban communities and cities with populations exceeding 250,000. Small towns and medium-sized cities have not seen the prosperity, the growth in educational test scores, and a reduction in health care costs that many others have seen” – Al Gore

“I believe that abortion should be available to women only in cases where rape, incest, or the life of the mother is involved. My position has been consistent, I am pro-life, but at the end of the day, this is an issue which has to be decided at the state level” – Elizabeth Dole

“I support a woman’s right to choose, though I have personally been pro-life. To me, this is about individual rights. My opponent and her party believe that the government should tell a woman what to do with her own body. I don’t agree that the government should have that extreme power” – Al Gore



October 9, 2004 – Hutchison, Lincoln participate in Vice Presidential Debate

“Vice President Dole and I are running on this President’s record, there is no doubt about that. The Vice President was a key partner to Tom Kean by his own admission. Our economy has never been stronger, our people have never been safer, and our country has never been more hopeful about the future" - Kay Bailey Hutchison

"Al Gore and I have both worked with President Kean. Four years ago, I actively campaigned and voted for the President. But, we know this election is about the future, not the last eight years. Vice President Dole is running on the Kean record, but she isn't running on her own record. The truth is, when she was Secretary of Transportation, she did nothing to address our crumbling infrastructure. In fact, she supported cuts to her own department. Al Gore and I believe that leadership is about advocating for those one is asked to lead. We believe that investing in education, health care, and the environment are crucial. We believe in investing in social security, medicare, and medicaid while still paying down the debt" - Blanche Lincoln

"Each of us has our own record to run on. In Texas, I fought for and signed into law sweeping ethics reform which forced legislators to disclose any political connection they have had with those doing business with the state. I fought for and won the passage of a parents bill of rights, requiring school districts to give parents the available options as to where they can send their children to school. I fought for an won passage of the largest tax relief in state history: a 20% cut in property taxes for 80% of our homeowners. I'm proud of that record. Senator Lincoln has no record of leadership to run on because she has voted with the leadership of her party 85% of the time and has no executive experience to speak of" - Kay Bailey Hutchison

"In the United States Senate, only three senators have had a more centrist voting record than me over the last three years. But this election is about the choices we make. The Vice President and Governor Hutchison want to dedicate a large chunk of the surplus to tax breaks without investing a new penny in education, health care, and the environment. We've had some of the largest tax relief in history just seven years ago, our economy is strong, now it's time to invest in our people. I've been pleased with this administration's budgets, Tom Kean has said we've cut taxes enough, I agree. I'm for cutting the payroll tax for the working poor, but we need to first invest in our workforce again" - Blanche Lincoln

October 17, 2004 – Dole, Gore participate in second Presidential Debate

"President Kean committed to building up our military to 1989 levels while investing in human intelligence. We are just three years away from reaching the first goal, and we have doubled funding towards human intelligence. We have given law enforcement the tools necessary to track the financing and financial activities of those who wish us harm. I have been with the President when he's made tough decisions about our security, and I will continue to pursue the policies of this administration in that regard" - Elizabeth Dole

"This administration's policies as it pertains to law enforcement have violated our civil liberties. I voted against the Dukakis administration's cuts in our intelligence budgets, and sponsored a bill to restore those cuts in 1997, but the Republicans supported spending double what I proposed without a way to pay for it and without declaring where exactly the money would go. I supported President Brown's agenda as it relates to the military: we should have an active army that is roughly halfway in size between Ronald Reagan and Michael Dukakis, but giving money to the pentagon that they didn't request, in my opinion, is unnecessary" - Al Gore

[dudeabides]

Election 2004: Dole elected President, GOP keeps congress

Elizabeth Dole / Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) 53% 300 EV
Al Gore / Blanche Lincoln (D) 46% 238 EV

Exit Polling - Election 2004
By political party
Republican - Elizabeth Dole 95% Al Gore 3%
Democratic - Al Gore 89% Elizabeth Dole 7%
Independent - Elizabeth Dole 50% Al Gore 48%

By ideology
Conservative - Elizabeth Dole 92% Al Gore 3%
Moderate - Elizabeth Dole 52% Al Gore 47%
Liberal - Al Gore 90% Elizabeth Dole 5%

By income
Less than $30,000 - Al Gore 60% Elizabeth Dole 38%
$30,000-$60,000 - Al Gore 57% Elizabeth Dole 42%
$60,000-$120,000 - Elizabeth Dole 53% Al Gore 46%
$120,000-$250,000 - Elizabeth Dole 61% Al Gore 38%
Above $250,000 - Elizabeth Dole 64% Al Gore 35%

By ethnicity
White - Elizabeth Dole 62% Al Gore 37%
Black - Al Gore 89% Elizabeth Dole 9%
Hispanic - Al Gore 59% Elizabeth 40%
Asian - Al Gore 55% Elizabeth Dole 44%
Other - Al Gore 63% Elizabeth Dole 36%

By gender
Male - Elizabeth Dole 51% Al Gore 48%
Female - Al Gore 53% Elizabeth Dole 46%

Five Closest States
Pennsylvania - Elizabeth Dole 49.7% Al Gore 49.4%
Arkansas - Elizabeth Dole 49.9 % Al Gore 49.4%
Tennessee - Al Gore 49.9% Elizabeth Dole 49.3%
New Hampshire - Elizabeth Dole 50% Al Gore 49%
New Jersey - Al Gore 52% Elizabeth Dole 47%

Five strongest Elizabeth Dole wins
Texas - Elizabeth Dole 65% Al Gore 34%
Idaho - Elizabeth Dole 63% Al Gore 36%
Wyoming - Elizabeth Dole 61% Al Gore 38%
South Carolina - Elizabeth Dole 60% Al Gore 39%
North Carolina - Elizabeth Dole 59% Al Gore 40%

Five strongest Al Gore wins
Rhode Island - Al Gore 72% Elizabeth Dole 26%
Hawaii - Al Gore 68% Elizabeth Dole 31%
Massachusetts - Al Gore 62% Elizabeth Dole 37%
California - Al Gore 57% Elizabeth Dole 42%
Oregon - Al Gore 55% Elizabeth Dole 44%

Most important issue
Economy 23%
Taxes 20%
Foreign Policy 19%
Education 12%
Health Care 18%
National Debt 6%
Trade 1%
Other 1%

[dudeabides]

Key events of the Dole Administration, January 20, 2005 - January 1, 2007
-January 28, 2005 - President Dole signs into law the Tax Relief Act of 2005, cutting payroll taxes in half for all employees and employers in firms with less than 150 people
- March 22, 2005 - President Dole signs into law the Reclaim our Streets Act, giving aid to the most dangerous cities in America for the use of cameras
- June 17, 2005 - President Dole signs into law House Speaker JC Watt's Cap Federal Spending Act, requiring that federal spending can't surpass the rate of inflation with an exception for national security purposes
- October 1, 2005 - President Dole warns Congress that Saddam Hussein is continued to defy what she refereed to as "crippling sanctions"
- October 24, 2005 - House Speaker JC Watts (R-OK), Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX), Congressman Peter King (R-NY), Senator Rudy Giuliani (R-NY), Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT), and Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) sponsor legislation authorizing President Dole to use force against Saddam Hussein. The House of Representatives votes 335-100 for the resolution, with 98 Democrats and 2 Republicans opposing it. In the U.S. Senate, the resolution passes 82-18, with 17 Democrats and Republican Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island opposing the resolution.
- December 1, 2005 - President Dole announces an invasion of Iraq
- January 18, 2006 - The U.S. secures Baghdad, as they have captured key members of Saddam Hussein's cabinet
- March 14, 2006 - The U.S. economy grew, but in February, saw it's worst one month jobs report since May of 1996
- May 27, 2006 - Saddam Hussein is captured
- June 17, 2006 - President Dole signs into law a bi-partsian bill allowing consumers of "green technology" to deduct up to $5,000 for the cost of that technology on their federal income tax returns.
- August 28, 2006 - President Dole signs into law a bill written by House Speaker JC Watts allowing for the elimination of import tariffs implemented under President Michael Dukakis
- October 1, 2006 - The U.S. economy saw the creation of under 400,000 jobs, the worst one month jobs report since March 1996.
- November 2, 2006 - Voters keep Republicans in control of the House and Senate, but polling shows while 65% approve of President Dole's foreign policy, just 47% approve of her handling of the economy. She has a 52% approval rating, and Republicans have their worst election cycle since 1988.
- December 17, 2006 - President Dole signs into law the Transportation and Infrastructure Support Act, designating 15% of total federal tax revenues from overseas tariffs to be used towards roadway and bridge repairs across the United States

January 15, 2007 - Corzine running for President

HOBOKEN, NJ - Former Senator Jon Corzine announced he would run for President of the United States in the 2008 presidential election. "The war in Iraq is costing us billions of dollars, and the reasons we are over there are unclear. This President rushed us to war without a plan to secure a free Iraq, we have wasted money and put our brave men and women in uniform at risk so this President can score political points. As President, my top priority will be to end this war" Corzine stated. Corzine spent his career in the private sector, including a stint at Goldman Sachs, before being elected to the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 2000. He declined to seek re-election in 2006.

January 25, 2007 - Carol Moseley Braun running for President

MANCHESTER, NH - Former Governor of Illinois Carol Moseley Braun announced that she would be a candidate for President in the 2004 election. "President Dole has not articulated to the American people the reasons we are in Iraq, as President, I will say three simple things. We overthrew a brutal dictator. We failed to plan for a post-Saddam Iraq. Now, we will achieve victory by helping train the Iraqis as opposed to nation building. This, along with growing our economy by helping small businesses and investing in worker re-training programs and by reviving job growth in those sectors where we are losing ground, will be the focus of my presidency" Braun stated. Braun served as a U.S. Senator from 1993-1999 and as Governor of Illinois from 1999-2007.

March 5, 2007 - Gephardt tries it again

MANCHESTER, NH - Former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt announced his third run for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. "Today, I am declaring that I will be a candidate for President in the 2004 election. I do so because unfortunately, the unfair trade agreements I warned Congress about are now starting to create what could be a long recession, and I want to reverse those trade agreements and repeal tax incentives for large companies to ship our jobs overseas" Gephardt stated. Gephardt made previous runs for President in 2004 and 1988. He served in Congress from 1977-2005 and as Democratic House Leader from 1995-2005.

[dudeabides]

April 5, 2007 - Pryor launches 2008 presidential bid

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Sen. Mark Pryor announced he would seek the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination. "I believe Americans are looking for a President who will work across party lines to achieve victory in Iraq and fix our failing economy" Pryor told CNN. "Democrats haven't lost elections because we appeal to the political center, we've lost elections because we haven't focused on building a governing majority" Pryor stated.

May 10, 2007 - Richardson launches presidential campaign

IOWA CITY, IA - Former Ambassador to Mexico Bill Richardson announced he would seek the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination. "As Americans, we need to start competing in a global economy, and we need to invest in education, infrastructure, and energy independence to help us move forward as a nation" Richardson stated. Richardson served in the U.S. House from 1983-1991, as Secretary of Education under Presidents Dukakis and Brown from 1992-1997, and as U.N. Ambassador to Mexico under President Tom Kean from 1997-2000 before becoming President of the University of New Mexico from 2001-2006.

May 15, 2007 - Daschle enters 2008 presidential race

MANCHESTER, NH - Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle entered the 2008 presidential race. "I have the experience of leadership and understand that our people need good jobs, quality health care, and a top notch education for their kids. I've dedicated my entire adult life to fighting for the values of the Democratic Party and the spirit of America. That spirit has taken a hit under the failed presidency of Elizabeth Dole, it's time to restore America's middle class and leadership role in the world, and I'm prepared to do just that" Daschle told supporters. Daschle served in the U.S. Senate from 1987-2005 and as U.S. Senate Minority Leader from 1999-2005.

June 5, 2007 - Poll: Daschle Democratic front-runner

Tom Daschle 30%
Dick Gephardt 24%
Bill Richardson 20%
Carol Moseley Braun 15%
Jon Corzine 6%
Mark Pryor 4%
Other 1%

[dudeabides]

July 15, 2007 - Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate

"What I have seen in the last two and a half years under this President is someone who believes that we should cut taxes, nation build overseas, and do little else to improve the quality of life for our citizens. I believe we need to do more to grow our economy and succeed in Iraq. But, let's be honest here. While some on this stage were supporting the war, I was warning against nation building in Iraq. While some on this stage were supporting the tax cuts for the very rich, I was warning against those tax cuts. While some on this stage supported cutting funding for infrastructure and education, I was warning against those cuts. I believe this election is about the future of our country, it's a critical election. We need a President who will set us up for success, and I believe my record proves that I'm going to be the President who fights for better schools, a more vibrant economy, and ending the war in Iraq in a way which brings our troops homes and leaves Iraq stable. I know that by investing in health care, job training, and green energy, we can get out of this recession, and yes we are in a recession" - Bill Richardson

"What this country needs is someone who can bring people together regardless of political party to fix our economy, which is headed towards recession, and to secure victory in Iraq. President Dole has had opportunity after opportunity to work with members of both parties to invest in job training programs and for infrastructure projects, yet in all of her budgets, spending for both of those things has been reduced by 20% since she took office, yet tax deductions for large corporations, something she supported reversing during her vice presidency, have been increased by $30 billion. I know how to negotiate and get things done, and that's the difference in this election. I pledge three things to the American people tonight. I will secure victory in Iraq by training the Iraqis and allowing them to take over responsibility for their security. I will invest in job training programs so those who have been displaced in this economy can go into a growth sector. I will fight to make college tuition tax deductible not by just a third of the cost like it is now, but I will also make student loans tax deductible so more students can get a college degree and have less debt. It takes leadership that's willing to reach across party lines to achieve results" - Mark Pryor

"For eighteen years in the U.S. Senate and a dozen years in leadership, I have dealt with virtually every issue our country is dealing with today. In the area of health care, where we have nearly 3 million Americans lacking health insurance, I have proposed mandating that states use SCHIP money to go towards providing every child in America with quality health insurance. In the area of education, I'm proud to have fought for the largest anti-drug campaign in our nation's history, and I plan on fighting for more funding towards anti-crime programs in schools for our at-risk youth. On economic development, it was my bill, which we passed shortly after this President's election, which allowed consumers to deduct up to $5,000 from their federal income taxes, expenses they had purchasing green technology. As President, I'll fight for more green and R&D tax credits to create jobs and revive our economy in two promising sectors. On foreign policy, I've been to more countries than any senate minority leader in our history. I understand the situation in Iraq, and I'll end this war as soon as possible. In my judgement, we must have a temporary surge in our forces in Iraq before withdrawing. I stand here before you today because I believe that we need a President who is focused on reviving the middle class and working families, someone with experience, and someone who understands what ordinary people go through" - Tom Daschle

"I'm proud of having dedicated my entire adult life to public service, as a prosecutor, U.S. Senator, and Governor. I spent six years in Washington and fought for the issues I care about, and I'm proud of my record. As Governor, I have brought Republicans and Democrats together in passing $2 billion in tax relief, education reform which demands higher standards and reformed tenure in our state, I fought to use all of our state's SCHIP dollars to reduce the number of uninsured children in my state to zero, the lowest number in America, we put in place the nation's toughest laws regarding welfare and medicare fraud, and we reduced crime by increasing the number of police on our streets while passing three-strikes sentencing laws. I believe our country needs someone who has had to fight for policy and make decisions in the white house. This President does not have that experience, and so she has spent a great deal of these last few years alienating people who disagree with her. I'm not running for President to raise taxes and increase the size and scope of government, I'm running for President to demand excellence in education, to reduce taxes on small businesses who create the vast majority of jobs in this country, to fight for more police on our streets along with three-strikes sentencing laws, and I'm running for President because I believe my plan on Iraq, which is a temporary surge where we ask the shiites, sunnis, and kurds to each create their own state within Iraq, is the only path to victory. My presidency will be focused on uniting a divided country, and on governing with the best interests of all of our people in mind" - Carol Moseley Braun

"The truth is, this Democratic primary is a referendum on Iraq. All of us up here agree that we need to increase health care access, invest in education, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, and help more kids go to college. What we disagree with is how we succeed in Iraq. Tom Daschle has stated consistently since 1991 that he believes we should invade Iraq, and Dick Gephardt said those of us who voted against the war were playing politics. Congressman Gephardt and Senator Daschle should be supporting the President for re-election with their over the top rhetoric. I voted against this war because I know that while Saddam Hussein has consistently violated human rights, he posed no threat to the security of the United States. As President, I will end this war and bring our troops home six months after I take office. I can promise you this, I'm the only candidate in either party who will be straight with you on this. President Dole, Senator Daschle, and Congressman Gephardt will tell you that what I'm proposing is radical and dangerous, but there is not anything more dangerous that young men and women being involved in a war where we are nation building. Let me also state that I am opposed to nation building, and I certainly am opposed to unnecessary conflicts. The only nation building we should do is here at home" - Jon Corzine

"I'm Dick Gephardt and I'm running for President to fight for the middle class and to tell Americans the truth on Iraq. I have warned the American people about the dangers of NAFTA going back 20 years. Unfortunately, we have lost over 350,000 manufacturing jobs in a decade as a direct result of NAFTA. Farmers in Mexico have seen declining incomes, and our farmers have now had the worst two years since the 1970s. I will reverse NAFTA and tell manufacturers that they do not have to pay taxes for their first five years of operation. That's why we are in an economic downturn, it's trade agreements which have sent our jobs and incomes overseas. Now, on Iraq. I supported overthrowing Saddam Hussein because I know he has been a threat to the United States, and I know that he tortured and murdered millions of people, many of them his own. I'm afraid President Dole has done a poor job conducting this war, and that's something I warned about even before we went into Iraq. I've said that I will support the plan which is supported by those who are on the ground: we need more troops and more training, so I'm willing to commit to that so long as there is an end in sight. I believe that we can succeed in Iraq, and I know we can create jobs here at home, and that's why I'm asking for your support" - Dick Gephardt

[dudeabides]

August 15, 2007 - Gore backs Daschle in presidential bid

MANCHESTER, NH - Senate Minority Leader Al Gore, the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nominee, backed Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in his 2008 presidential campaign. "Tom Daschle is running for President as a champion of the values of the Democratic Party, he is courageous and has the judgement to lead" Gore said of Daschle.

September 15, 2007 - Braun promises not to raise taxes, investments in education and health care, three state solution in Iraq

IOWA CITY, IA - Democratic Presidential Hopeful Carol Moseley Braun told an Iowa audience she would invest in education and health care, but stated she would not increase taxes. Braun called for covering every child in America with health care under SCHIP, a cost of $12 billion per year. She also said that she would send more money to states for educational purposes, so long as the states passed tenure reform and came up with new ways to help students with special needs and those unable to get ahead. Additionally, Braun pledged that she would stop automatic increases in federal spending, and she said she would not increase taxes. Braun also voiced support for a three state solution in Iraq, the only presidential candidate to do so.

October 10, 2007 - President Dole announces re-election bid

CHAPEL HILL, NC - President Elizabeth Dole returned to her native state of North Carolina to officially launch her 2008 presidential bid. "Today, Iraq is a free country and the world has one less brutal dictator in power. America is investing in green technology and in rebuilding our infrastructure. Crime rates are at their lowest levels in three generations. Working with Speaker Watts, Senator Frist, and others, we have managed to use the success of the Kean administration and implement policies which have emphasized public safety, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. We have seen an era of greater civility in Washington. Yet, our opponents want to move us back to the spend and tax politics of another era. My fellow citizens, we can't let them. We must move forward with confidence and a sense of responsibility. So, today, I announce that I will stand as a candidate for re-election as President of the United States" Dole stated.

October 12, 2007 - Daschle claims to be best alternative to Dole, lays out five point agenda

DES MOINES, IA - Democratic Presidential Candidate Tom Daschle declared that he was the candidate best prepared to run against President Dole, arguing his experience and ability to continuously win in a red state prepared him for a general election campaign against Dole. Daschle said if elected President, he would fight for five major policy items during his first term. Daschle pledged to train the Iraqis to take over security of their own country, make college loans tax deductible, raise the federal minimum wage, using tax credits to encourage R&D as well as green technology, and he pledged to increase funding for worker re-training programs.

October 23, 2007 - Gephardt wins backing of former house colleagues and leading Democrats, talks trade and health care

CHARLESTON, SC - 45 House Democrats, including Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi, joined Former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo, Rock Star Bruce Springsteen, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Senator Barbra Boxer of California, and 2000 Democratic Presidential Nominee Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, in endorsing Dick Gephardt's presidential campaign as Gephardt outlined his vision for the country. Gephardt stated if elected President, his top domestic priorities would be repealing NAFTA and providing subsidized health care for those earning below $200,000 per year by asking those earning above $400,000 to pay the same tax rates they paid before the Kean tax cuts of 1997.

November 1, 2007 - Anti-war Democrats back Corzine as Corzine compares front-runners to Dole on Iraq

DOVER, NH - Senator Jon Corzine, 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidate, won the support of Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), Retired General Wesley Clark (D-AR), and Former Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) in his 2008 presidential bid. Corzine has continued his stance that the Democratic Presidential Primaries was a referendum on Iraq, and that he and his opponents agreed on domestic issues for the most part. Corzine stated that he believes opponents Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle are the same as President Dole on Iraq.

November 5, 2007 - Former President Jerry Brown endorses Carol Moseley Braun

HILLSBOROUGH, SC - Former President Jerry Brown endorsed Carol Moseley Braun for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination. "Carol Moseley Braun has experience, and has the vision to help lift Americans spirits. She understands what leadership is about, and she has been a tireless advocate for ordinary people for her entire life" Brown said of Braun.

November 15, 2007 - Approval ratings of Presidents Carter-Dole


Approve Vs. Disapprove
Jimmy Carter - 37% Approve 50% Disapprove
Ronald Reagan - 75% Approve 20% Disapprove
Michael Dukakis - 39% Approve 44% Disapprove
Jerry Brown - 46% Approve 45% Disapprove
Tom Kean 71% Approve 21% Disapprove
Elizabeth Dole 53% Approve 44% Disapprove

Favorable Vs. Unfavorable
Jimmy Carter - 42% Favorable 49% Unfavorable
Ronald Reagan - 77% Favorable 10% Unfavorable
Michael Dukakis- 41% Favorable 42% Unfavorable
Jerry Brown- 48% Favorable 47% Unfavorable
Tom Kean - 81% Favorable 7% Unfavorable
Elizabeth Dole - 52% Favorable 44% Unfavorable

Best President in the last 27 years
Ronald Reagan 30%
Tom Kean 24%
Jerry Brown 18%
Elizabeth Dole 17%
Michael Dukakis 4%
None 3%
Jimmy Carter 2%