Gennifer Flowers came forward during Bill Clinton's 1992 Presidential election campaign, stating that she had a 12-year relationship with him. Why would this affect him in 1988?

During the Democratic Party Convention was held in Atlanta, Georgia from July 18–21, Clinton placed Dukakis's name in nomination, but the nominating speech lasted for so long that some delegates began booing to get him to finish, and he received great cheering when he said, "In closing..."
 
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In '92, all the big names on the Democrat side stayed out, expecting Bush to win a second term. Clinton was governor of ARKANSAS, for crying out loud, not a state expected to be a jumping off spot for ... well, anything, really.

He did so well in the campaign, and then as President that he seems far, FAR more likely in hindsight than he ever was in prospect.

If he runs, he loses. First in the primaries, then (if he joins the ticket as VP candidate, say), to Bush in the General election.

A good run COULD position him for '92, but maybe he'd stay out like Cuomo, etc., did....
 
Bill Clinton's infidelities are a much more serious issue in 1988 than in 1992. Clinton was a brilliant politician-which could carry him far even in a more contested primary season.

But for any Democrat to win the nomination other than Gary Hart-Hart has to collapse. The reason why Dukakis and not Hart was nominated has a fair amount to do with the fact that Hart was caught having an affair.

If Clinton runs his infidelity will be revealed-and coming right on the heels of what happened to Hart-those revelations stand a much better chance of sinking his campaign.

If Clinton runs and Hart avoids his scandal-Hart's strength makes everyone else in the primary field irrelevant-including Bill Clinton.

Clinton would also face a much more competitive field in the South-his natural area of strength. In 1988 he would have been running against both Al Gore and Jesse Jackson. Bill Clinton was a better politician than Al Gore. But a divided field
means that even if somehow is the most successful of the three he can't secure all the Southern delegates he needs to stand a chance of being nominated.

I would never underestimate Bill Clinton as a politician. But 1988 was not his year. For him to be even in the running to be the nominee requires a scandal that would bring attention to his faults. His natural base is more divided. That he's the Governor of Arkansas is the least of his problems in the context of 1988

There is a reason why he didn't run.
 
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