alternatehistory.com

Francis X. Clines said:
Alexandria, VA Nov. 8th 1995: Resisting an enormous popular drumbeat for his candidacy, Gen. Colin L. Powell, the hero of the gulf war, declined today to compete in the 1996 Presidential election because, he admitted, he lacked "a passion and commitment that, despite my every effort, I do not have for political life."

"Such a life requires a calling that I do not yet hear," the general said, turning away from the race at the height of a personal appeal among the American public that had threatened to upend the current political arena and reorder the strategies of both major parties.

At a packed news conference here, the 58-year-old general, a commanding black executive celebrated in voter polls even more among whites than blacks, got right to the question that has teased the nation for months. After wrestling "back and forth" with the Presidential bid widely urged upon him, he looked "deep into my own soul," he said, and concluded he lacked the kind of passionate commitment to politics that sustained his bond of trust with the public across 35 years of Army service.

"For me to pretend otherwise would not be honest to myself, it would not be honest to the American people and I would break that bond of trust," the retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, ruling out any second thoughts as the campaign proceeds, but leaving a future candidacy open to speculation.

To me, he's one of the most cliche first Black President in most people TL's or atleast seen as the first African American candidate who had a serious shot at winning the Presidency. But after searching the older threads here at AH.com, I found that talking about a Powell run in '96 really hasn't been discussed yet. It's a shame really considering how popular the man was at the time and favored within the GOP.

So let's say that Powell does find his calling and throws caution to the wind, to run for the White House in '96. How might he market himself differently from the likes of Dole, and Buchanan? Would stressing his moderate stance on issues like abortion and affirmative action help him at all in the GOP primaries or would he serve better running on his military record? He was polling ahead of Dole in October of '95 in New Hampshire, and could have possibly pulled off an narrow victory in Iowa if he played his hands right.

But more importantly could he win the nomination outright, or might he have to sling out a long primary season with Dole? Would the social conservative wing of the GOP stand for another Moderate nominee, only four years removed from Bush 41? How much crossover African American support could Powell expect to carry him in the primaries and general election? How much could loosing or splitting the black vote hurt Clinton's reelection chances? Does Perot still run, and if so, what affect does that have on the race? Who would be a good nominee to balance out the ticket for Powell? And can Powell cobble together 270 electoral votes needed to win the election? Finally what would a Powell Presidency look like from '97-05?(assuming he wins reelection)

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