As the tumultuous election season comes to an end today, the nation is choosing a new chief executive to lead it into the future - or at least through next four years. Campaign promises, accusations, and debates characterized this election cycle, and today, all efforts come to a head when citizens cast their votes. While one third-party candidate may significantly influence the outcome, when it comes down to the line, most voters will opt for either Vice President Al Gore or Texas Governor George W. Bush.
Last fall, four candidates battled to gain the major-party nominations. In a strong showing by "alternative" candidates, former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley challenged Gore for months, including a campaign stop at Tufts to discuss foreign policy on Nov. 29. On the Republican ticket, in one of the closest primary races in history, Arizona Senator John McCain let the media into his life and showed the country an unconventional, and to some refreshing, type of politician.
By the time the primaries ended last spring, Bush and Gore had pulled ahead, ready to square off in the general election. In a campaign deemed by many political pundits to be one of the closest in recent history, both in terms of issue stances and poll numbers, Bush and Gore have toiled endlessly to win votes. With poll results flip-flopping since June, neither candidate could boast a secure lead in the final weeks of the campaign, although Bush has held a consistent one-point edge in recent weeks.
The campaign, while relatively tame compared to some other elections, did provide some eye-opening moments. Bush and the media continually accused Gore of extensive exaggeration, citing his claim that he invented the Internet, among other assertions. On that count, his actual role came in authoring legislation leading to the creation of the Internet - the dialogue between Gore and CNN's Wolf Blitzer on March 9, 1999 included the statement "during my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet."
Bush also felt the prying eyes of the media, particularly this past week when a 24-year-old record of an arrest for "Driving Under the Influence" was unearthed in Maine. While the finding seems to have had little effect on registered voters, it has caused some to question the Governor's campaign themes of honesty and responsibility.
And yet, the election is supposed to come down to the issues. In this election, the media devoted an enormous amount of coverage to the charisma, family backgrounds, and personalities of the candidates, claiming that there was no clear difference between the two on important issues.
Certainly, there are a few glaring issues - Bush supports a school voucher system, Gore does not. Gore supports mandatory trigger locks on all new guns, Bush does not. Bush supports privatizing, at least partially, social security, Gore does not.
Other issues haunt the candidates. In a historic move, Gore chose Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman as his running mate, offering the possibility of the first Jewish vice president in history. In light of the continued violence in the Middle East, however, some analysts say Gore is taking a hit, with Arab voters leaning away from the Jewish Lieberman, and towards Bush.
And although the race is truly between the two main party candidates, this election reintroduced a strong third party candidate in the Green Party's Ralph Nader. Nader, whose policy ideas fall far to the left of Gore, is poised to play a major role in today's election. Vying for five percent of the national vote in order to ensure national funding in the future, many Democrats claim votes for Nader will essentially be taking away votes from Gore, and helping to ensure a Republican victory.
Because of the Electoral College system relies on state-by-state victories, Gore supporters worry about Nader's potential influence, and have created websites encouraging Nader supporters living in swing states to contact a Democrat in a Bush-secure state. Presumably, the two voters can "trade" votes, thus ensuring Nader maintains his five percent support, but also leading to a strategic casting of votes to help Gore win swing states.
But the real battle today will be between the Democrat and the Republican, the Vice President and the Governor, Al Gore and George W. Bush.
Gore promises to continue the economic prosperity that has been a trademark of the Clinton administration. Bush promises to bring the government back to the people. Gore will pour the budget surplus back into schools and the waning social security, while Bush will give it back to the people directly through tax cuts. Gore promises to fight for the middle class, while he accuses Bush's tax plan of only helping the wealthiest one percent of people in the nation. Bush promises to be truthful to the people, and in the next breath brings up instances when Gore supposedly lied or exaggerated. It may be the early morning before voters know who will be their next president, but after a long election cycle and a race likely to come down to the wire, the country will be ready to usher in a new administration.
