Could anyone have beaten Clinton in 1996?

[Please Delete my account!!]

Since this seems to be the trend on this board, I thought I would add this one.  In 1994, Clinton seemed headed to certain doom after the Republicans won control of both houses of congress for the first time in over 50 years.  But what a difference 2 years makes.

By 96, the main election was over before it started.  To his credit, Bob Dole did do better in the actual election than most polls and political analyst thought he would.  But still, Dole entered the presidential election with way too much against him.  His age, a poorly run campaign, and the fact that he didn't have the persona that Clinton did.  I think it's a shame because Bob Dole would have made a good president.   But he didn't stand a chance.

So is there any Republican that cuold have beaten Clinton in 96?  Forbes?  Buchanan?  Anybody?

[kashifsakhan]

No. I think Clinton could beat any Republican on his charisma alone. I dont think there was any Republican back then, or even now, that could beat an incumbent Clinton.

[dazzleman]

Maybe Colin Powell.  He's the only person I can think of.  He was the only potential opponent that Clinton feared.

[Nym90]

Possibly Powell; the election would've been close.

I have to think Clinton would've had a decent shot at sweeping the South if Powell had been the Republican nominee, however. Either that or someone like Buchanan might well have run as a third party candidate.

Other than Colin Powell, though, I don't think any Republican could've won that race. Alexander actually might've been the strongest nominee among the candidates who ran; he probably at least would've won KY and TN, but probably not anything else that Dole lost.

[Dr. Cynic]

I have to agree with Nym. Powell would have a decent shot at Clinton in 1996, and it would have made me really conflicted, and glad that I was only 8 going on 9 years at the time.

[Nym90]

I have to agree with Nym. Powell would have a decent shot at Clinton in 1996, and it would have made me really conflicted, and glad that I was only 8 going on 9 years at the time.

I think we would've seen a map similar to 1976, actually. Clinton would probably win most of the South as they'd prefer a white moderate Democrat from the South over a northern black moderate Republican (sad but true), especially one who was and is pretty liberal on social issues.

[MasterJedi]

No, I don't think so. Maybe Powell would have had a shot but it still would have been dead close.

[TomC]

Kemp would have been better than Dole and been more competetive in the NE and the rust belt. Clinton still probably would have won though.

[Reignman]

Nope.

[WalterMitty]

powell and alexander are the only two that would have even had a chance.

[Frodo]

I concur with others that Colin Powell could have been the only Republican who even remotely had a chance of defeating President Clinton -that said, he would have been torn to pieces in the primaries for being too moderate, so the point is moot. 

[gorkay]

Clinton and his people thought Alexander was his strongest potential opponent. But I don't think Alexander would have beaten him. Powell may have had a chance, but I doubt he would have won either. His political inexperience would have been a liability that Clinton would have taken full advantage of.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Powell had a chance, but it would have been close.

[merseysider]

I think the GOP would have had a good chance of ousting Clinton in 96 had they not won control of Congress in 94 - I was looking at some Clinton 96 ads and they all seemed to consist of attacks on Newt Gingrich and the Republican Congress.

I think if they had got someone with Bob Dole's politics but who was a bit younger, that someone could have won.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Lamar Alexander/Colin Powell (R) 274
Bill Clinton/Albert Gore Jr. (D) 264

[Conan]

Lamar Alexander/Colin Powell (R) 274
Bill Clinton/Albert Gore Jr. (D) 264

You're such a hack

[Colin]

Lamar Alexander/Colin Powell (R) 274
Bill Clinton/Albert Gore Jr. (D) 264

You're such a hack

Pot, meet kettle.