1992 Primaries

The 1988 election was a monumental moment in American politics, both for its immediate effect and what it would bring in the years to come. With widespread dissatisfaction with both of the main parties, and an angry left seemingly betrayed by an all-around centrist DA ticket, the perfect opportunity came for a left-wing independent bid like Jesse Jackson's. The outspoken civil rights advocate jumped in the race and quickly rose in the polls like no other candidate in modern times. "Everything just fell into place at the right time," ABC's Peter Jennings would later recall. The last week saw a tremendous surge in particular, and when the votes were counted, Jackson made history by becoming the first African-American president by consolidating the liberal vote, with Al Gore and Jack Kemp dividing up most of the conservatives and centrists.

The shock victory sent ripples throughout the world. After being sworn in, President Jackson was able to claim a mandate and pushed through ambitious plans. Jackson's most successful initiative was the Civil Rights Act of 1989, which expanded voting rights and provided reparations for descendants of black slaves. Other notable accomplishments in his first two years included a freeze on nuclear development, a scale back of the War on Drugs, and a federal jobs program focused on infrastructure and farming. President Jackson decided to organize his supporters through the formation of a new political party which he would call the Rainbow Coalition, "a clean break from politics as usual" with the intent of attracting various minority groups.

Though Jackson could claim significant accomplishments early on in his term, his success would not last. The 1990 midterms saw a sweep for the AU nationwide as a backlash against the president's radical policy changes, claiming both houses of Congress in the process and effectively halting any other domestic policies from the administration. While the Soviet Union dissolved, the United States did not have much time to celebrate as the world's sole remaining superpower. Domestic troubles came to ultimately define the Jackson presidency. Jackson faced a major scandal after it was revealed that multiple top-ranking members of his administration had been associated with communist and black nationalist organizations. Race relations rapidly deteriorated as a result of the first black president, with hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan experiencing tremendous growth during this time period. Starting in 1991, racial violence exploded, and race riots now became even more common than during the 1960s. It was on this note that the competency of the Jackson administration was questioned, with many believing that little was done to effectively crack down on the chaos in the streets.

By 1992, the problem was looking more like a full-blown race war. Black and white extremists were only gaining clout instead of being shut down by the feds, and violence spread beyond the metro areas of the country. The state of the union was at its worst point in decades, and many feared that the worst was still yet to come. Despite grave troubles at home, President Jackson was undeterred and opted for reelection, though a sizable portion of his party are drafting Vice President Eugene McCarthy for the nomination. Across the parties, most all of the candidates are focusing on law and order in light of what has unfolded. The DA is currently struggling with the feud between progressives and centrists in the party, exacerbated since 1988. Candidates like Bill Bradley and George McGovern represent the progressive base while those more to the right include Bill Clinton, Paul Tsongas, and Lloyd Bentsen. As for the AU, the race is rather unpredictable and showcases its own internal schisms. One notable candidate is recently elected Senator David Duke, a former KKK leader and an alleged instigator of the nation's racial violence.

Two days.

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