MAY 9, 1987: THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
The Democratic Debate that went from 7:00 - 8:30 earlier tonight was not one that should've been missed. With MSNBC's Tom Ritchie moderating all five of the major candidates were in attendance. Senator Dale Bumpers, Senator Al Gore, Senator Gary Hart, Senator Ted Kennedy, and former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. When each candidate had the ability to make a 30-second opening statement Senator
Ted Kennedy had no problem attacking
Geraldine Ferraro, questioning her husband's credibility in front of a record-breaking
27 million viewers across the nation. Ferraro did, however, shoot back saying, "There may be a few questions regarding my husband's personal finances but there are far more questions surrounding the night of July 18, 1969 on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts if you ask me and almost every American out there." The line drew large applause from Ferraro supporters and "undecideds" in the audience while Kennedy supporters booed the Congresswoman. Eventually Kennedy went on to say, "My position and statements are clear and I resent, Geraldine, the fact that you would bring up the death of an innocent woman in a political debate." Ferraro was quick to shoot back, "It's your record, not mine." The debate continued to get heated between Ferraro and Kennedy as Senator Gary Hart was forced to answer questions about
infidelity in his marriage. Tom Ritchie asked Senator Hart, "Senator a great deal has been made about infidelity in your marriage. Are you ready to respond to these allegations? Specifically the unconfirmed reports that you have been seeing a young model named Donna Rice?" Hart responded, "I don't speak about rumors and allegations from unnamed sources." However Ritchie would not let go, "Senator with all due respect you're running for President and I don't think that answer cuts it." Hart, clearly off his game, responded, "Well I suppose it's going to have to isn't it, Tom." The comment drew boos from the audience.
Senators
Al Gore and
Dale Bumpers staid above any heated moments and clearly presented their responses to the issues. When it came to closing statements, however, Geraldine Ferraro (who had the last word of the candidates) closed her statement by saying, "Ladies and Gentlemen we deserve a hell of a lot better than we're getting. My positions on the issues are clear and I will work for all Americans, that's why the Democratic Party chose me to be the Vice Presidential Nominee three years ago, an honor that I'll never forget. We need a President who holds him or herself to higher standards, we need a President who'll defend human rights, we need a President who follows the fifth commandment, and we need a President who'll fight for all the people of America. Thank you and God Bless." While her closing grew thunderous applause from the auditorium at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum it also drew boos from Kennedy supporters.
As Ferraro was exiting one Kennedy supporter, Ralph Cantor, threw a brick through her limousine's back window shattering the glass and injuring her husband, John Zaccaro. Mr. Cantor was charged with attempted murder and Ferraro's secret service protection was increased. Senator
Ted Kennedy did respond saying he, "abhorred the actions of the individual in question." and that he hoped he'd be brought to justice.
Upon the debate's conclusion a poll was taken in the audience on who they felt had the best performance.
24% said Dale Bumpers, 22% said Al Gore, 18% said Geraldine Ferraro, 15% said Ted Kennedy, 11% said Gary Hart, and 10% were undecided A poll taken of 15,000 people nationwide who watched the debate had very different results.
25% said Geraldine Ferraro, 21% said Ted Kennedy, 20% said Dale Bumpers, 16% said Al Gore, 9% said Gary Hart, and 9% were undecided Apparently the Ferraro-Kennedy exchanges throughout the night were more entertaining at home than in person. It remains to be seen who'll get the biggest bump from the debate but for now all eyes are turned towards the Republican debate tomorrow night where Senator
Bob Dole (R-KS),
Pat Robertson (R-VA), and former Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL) will fight for the big bump on the Republican side.
MAY 10, 1987: BORING DEBATE ALLOWS ROBERTSON TO SHINE
If you watched the Democratic Debate and felt it was too slow you fell asleep during the Republican debate. Bob Dole failed to surpass expectations. Donald Rumsfeld demonstrated his amazing grasp of knowledge on foreign policy, but it was Pat Robertson who shined in the debate earlier this evening. Surprising most viewers with his surprisingly good grasp of the issues, Robertson will likely see the biggest bump from the debate.
Twenty-four million Americans tuned in to watch the debate which was held at Kansas State University. A poll taken of the audience on who they felt was the winner was taken and
38% said Pat Robertson won, 32% said Rumsfeld, and 29% said Dole, and 1% was undecided. When asked of 15,000 viewers at home
33% said Robertson, 33% said Dole, and 32% said Rumsfeld with 2% undecided. Unfortunately for Robertson not many people are paying much attention to the debate because more people care about whether or not Vice President Bush will enter the race for President, he scheduled a press conference for May 15th which we assume will answer most of the questions surrounding whether or not he'll run for president. If he doesn't we expect a lot more candidates to pile in to the race days after Bush's announcement and if he does those same candidates will likely be endorsing the Vice President.
Meanwhile Reverend
Jesse Jackson entered the Presidential race on the Democratic side. Few are sure if Jackson will do as strong as he did in the 1984 Campaign, but many African-American voters are running to support Jackson.
Geraldine Ferraro welcome Jackson in to the campaign and said she was happy that "more ideas and proposals would be brought to the Democrat's this year." While we're still months away from the first primaries and caucuses this race is getting more and more intense as the days pass. Former Senator
Paul Laxalt will be announcing whether or not he'll get in the race on May 16th while Governor Pierre S. du Pont will make an announcement on the 17th. With Jackson's entrance in to the race it leaves one Democrat undecided
Bill Clinton (D-AR) is the only formidable candidate yet to announce whether or not he'll get in the race himself. There are still many Republicans who've yet to make an announcement, especially if George Bush decides to stay out.
MAY 15, 1987: VICE PRESIDENT BUSH IS OUT, REPUBLICANS SCRAMBLE TO FIND MORE CANDIDATES
Vice President Bush ruled out a presidential campaign on May 15th
Vice President of the United States
George Herbert Walker Bush ruled out any entrance in to the 1988 Presidential Race. At a press conference he said, "I will not seek nor will I accept the Republican Party's nomination as President of the United States. I cannot afford, in this hour of need, to excuse myself from the duties of being Vice President. I cannot, at this time, afford to spend my days campaigning when there is work to be done." With George Bush out Republicans are scrambling to find someone to support.
Paul Laxalt will announce his decision tomorrow, Governor du Pont the day after, and it is rumored that Senator
Orrin Hatch will make an announcement on the 19th. The announcement came as a surprise even though Bush had been delaying an official statement for quite some time.
NBC's Tom Ritchie commented on Bush's refusal to enter, "Much like Mario Cuomo and Michael Dukakis, George Bush shocked us all today. Republicans are going to have to find a candidate quickly if they want any shot of winning this race."
President Ronald Reagan had no comment on Vice President Bush's announcement. However Senator Bob Dole had this to say, "While I looked forward to a great campaign with Vice President Bush I admire his ability to make the best decision for the country." Donald Rumsfeld and Pat Robertson made comments along similar lines. Most of the Bush supporters don't feel betrayed by Bush, but they're upset they'll have to look for another candidate. Supporter Nickie Gamble of Iowa said this, "Well maybe George'll be Vice President again, I mean, it could happen...right?" With many Bush supporters upset and confused
Pat Robertson campaigned hard in Kansas, urging Evangelical Christians to support his campaign for President. Democrats, however, took another tone when addressing Bush's announcement. Front runner
Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) commented, "I'm glad to see that come January 20, 1989 the Reagan-Bush regime will come to an end!" At a campaign stop in Baltimore Senator
Kennedy addressed Bush's announcement in his speech, "And so we've see that Georgie is gonna stay out of this campaign. It's good to see that, for once in his career, he's putting country first. As your President I'll ALWAYS put country first!" Senators Gore, Hart, and Bumpers made no specific comments on Bush while
Jesse Jackson said he had "looked forward" to a general election campaign with Bush.
MAY 20, 1987: FOUR REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS
Surprising many political pundits and talking heads, Missouri Governor John Ashcroft entered the Republican Nomination fight
After serving just over two years as Governor of Missouri in addition to eight years as Missouri's Attorney General and one year as State Auditor, Republican
John Ashcroft announced that he'd be running for President of the United States. At what many assumed would be the kickoff to his reelection as Governor John Ashcroft declared, "And so, my fellow Americans, I've decided to run for President of the United States and I'm running to win." Ashcroft made his announcement on the 18th, the third in a four-day marathon of announcements. On the 16th
Paul Laxalt entered the race and on the seventeenth Governor Pierre S. du Pont announced he would not run. Also on the 17th Congressman Jack Kemp entered the race. The 18th was, of course, Ashcroft day, and on the 19th Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah entered the race. Increasing the Republican field from 3 to 7.
NBC's Tom Ritchie was greatly surprised by announcements from Senator Hatch and Governor Ashcroft. "No one did any polling on these two and their names aren't well-known. It'll be tough if they want to try and win crucial primaries." Senator
Bob Dole welcomed Laxalt, Kemp, Ashcroft, and Hatch in to the race for President calling all of them "qualified and respectable men". Robertson and Rumsfeld made similar comments. When the next batch of polling is released in the coming days many people will be looking forward to knowing how these new batch of candidates do.