Reply #8: Several reasons [View All]

(in no particular order)



1. Republicans had held the White House for twelve years in 1992. People do want something "new" once in a while. Especially since the economy was tanking.
2. Perot
3. Supernatural charisma. Clinton's really off the scale in that regard, and they don't come around that often. None of the contenders in this year's race--on either side--have it to that degree.
4. Weak candidates opposing. (And no, GWB is NOT a weak candidate: his handlers have packaged that nationalism/paranoia/"faith"/feel-good know-nothing jingoism better than even Reagan's, at a time when people are even more eager to hear it. Neither Bush I nor Dole managed to attach themselves successfully to a whole mythology. Clinton rode the optimistic version of this packaging very effectively, especially in his first campaign.)

Sorry if this seems pessimistic.