1996 Presidential Election (No Reagan Series)

[PPT Spiral]

As expected, President Eastwood was able to steamroll Alan Keyes in the primaries and cruise to general election mode, demonstrating that his troubles with social conservatives in the party are not as severe as some had thought. There was speculation beginning in the spring from supposed leaks that Eastwood was planning to dump Vice President Ron Paul from the ticket to find better balance, though these rumors proved to be untrue.

The Democratic primary was a much more interesting show. While Ross Perot was the frontrunner for months before the primaries, the first contests gave wins to Warren Beatty and John Kerry and the necessary momentum to get their time in the frontrunner's seat. An unexpectedly strong showing by Ralph Nader during Super Tuesday also shot him up in the polls afterward, leading to a jumbled mess of results for the next primaries. Worries emerged that Democrats would see a contested convention, but those worries evaporated when late deciders began to heavily break for Perot, becoming the presumptive nominee by June. Perot would select Pat Moynihan as his running mate both to double down on his unorthodox message and to bring hefty Washington experience in order to make good on his agenda.

Re-Elect Clint - Keep America Moving

President Eastwood starts out as the huge favorite in this election due to the booming economy and the end of the Cold War under his watch. Eastwood promises even more cuts in taxes and spending to streamline government, claiming that it has already produced results. The President, feeling emboldened, plans to tackle domestic reforms such as expanding gay rights, strict gun control, immigration reform, and environmental protection. On the foreign policy front, the President calls for a reevaluation of the United States' role in the world and plans to gradually withdraw forces in Europe while pushing for ex-Soviet states to be admitted into NATO.

Perot for President - The Guts to Bring Real Change

Ross Perot, no doubt the underdog, is running a heavily populist campaign. Perot calls for reversing President Eastwood's tax cuts on the wealthy and concurrent spending cuts to reach a balanced budget. Perot also promises to scrap NAFTA on day one and reevaluate the nation's other trade agreements, arguing for a pro-American trade policy. On other domestic issues, Perot is promising universal healthcare through a "Medicare for All" system, a large investment in infrastructure spending, direct democracy through "electronic town halls," and, in an incorporation of his running mate's ideas, a pro-family agenda of subsidies for parents and a basic minimum income. Perot supports a more active involvement around the world, including improving relationships with the UN, peacekeeping in war-torn regions, and aiding the ex-USSR in their transition to independence.

Two days.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Fantastic matchup, though both are to the left of what I'd expect from them. At work, so I can't decide now.

[PPT Spiral]

Fantastic matchup, though both are to the left of what I'd expect from them. At work, so I can't decide now.

It's an interesting conundrum: We're in a universe here when Republicans can put up with a flagrant social liberal, while Democrats across the board have become much more economically interventionist in response to the Republican leader's laissez-faire policies.

[President Johnson]

Ross Perot of course.

[Maxwell]

I guess Eastwood. Bad election year.

[Goldwater]

Weirdly enough, Ross Perot  has the better foreign policy. But considering his views on trade... Reluctant Eastwood vote.

[Mr. Smith]

Excellent choices, but I guess Perot.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Eastwood/Paul by a mile!

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

[Intell]

Perot in a heartbeat!

[Kingpoleon]

Perot/Moynihan! Moynihan would be an amazing Vice President.

[SATW]

Perot-Moynihan, despite supporting Eastwood in the previous poll.

Ron Paul is a no-go, while Moynihan as VP would be amazing.

[PPT Spiral]

We've got some serious Perotmentum right now.

[White Trash]

Ross is the Boss!

[ElectionsGuy]

Eastwood/Paul!

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Eastwood, but Perot isn't awful.

[White Trash]

Looks like Perot has captured it!

[PPT Spiral]

What should have been a cakewalk for President Eastwood turned out to have been anything but. As the President mostly focused on his duties, Ross Perot began injecting huge sums of cash into running advertisements and even informercial-like programs detailing his proposals and relentlessly going after Eastwood. Perot's spending was close to a billion dollars overall by the end of the year, and his media-intensive campaign had the effect of significantly bringing down Eastwood's approval ratings while shooting Perot up in the polls to be a legitimate contender. Adding further pain to Eastwood, many influential religious and social conservative leaders who had been reliable Republicans were declaring that they would sit out the election or go for Perot as the lesser of two evils. Perot's momentum continued to pick up with three consecutive debate performances heralded as straightforward and in command of the issues, reducing Eastwood to a man visibly frustrated by his position. As campaigning drew to a close, the mother of all October surprises punched the nation right in the gut: On October 28, a bomb detonated inside of the New York Stock Exchange, killing over 200 people. The mastermind of this terrorist plot was soon discovered to be Vladimir Putin, a former top-ranking member of the KGB, who was at large along with his cohorts. The attack disintegrated Eastwood's argument of America being at peace and voters immediately flocked to Perot's bold calls for action. As the results of Election Night started coming in, it was resoundingly clear: Ross Perot would be the next President of the United States in the greatest reversal of fortunes since Truman vs. Dewey.

Businessman Ross Perot/Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan - 430 EV (55.6%)
President Clint Eastwood/Vice President Ron Paul - 108 EV (44.4%)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Eastwood 2000!