Bob Graham 2004 presidential campaign

Last updated
Bob Graham 2004 presidential campaign
Bob Graham for president 2004 logo.svg
Campaign 2004 United States presidential election (Democratic Party primaries)
Candidate Bob Graham
United States Senator from Florida
(1987–2005)
Governor of Florida
(1979–1987)
Affiliation Democratic Party
EC formed February 27, 2003
AnnouncedMay 6, 2003
SuspendedOctober 6, 2003
Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) Bob Graham, official Senate photo portrait, color.jpg
Senator Bob Graham (D-FL)

Bob Graham was a candidate for President of the United States in the 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

Contents

At the time of the campaign, Graham was the senior United States senator from Florida. His campaign exploratory committee began on February 27, 2003, and on May 6, he announced his formal entry into the race. He dropped out on October 6, 2003.

Background

Graham's name had a long presence in presidential and vice presidential politics, due to his popularity as governor and senator. In 1984 there was a movement to draft him for vice president on a ticket headed by Walter Mondale, but this effort finally went for nothing. He was also seriously considered by three successive presidential nominees (Michael Dukakis in 1988, Bill Clinton in 1992 and Al Gore in 2000) as their running-mate, each time appearing on their finalist list. [1] [2] He also harbored Presidential ambitions for years.

Graham's relatively low-key national profile was significantly raised after the September 11 attacks. He served as a chairman of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and had a steady stream of TV appearances during the War on Terrorism, soon becoming one of the best-known politicians.

He also represented a key swing state, Florida, which decided the 2000 presidential election results. Winning Florida four years later might possibly give Democrats the White House. Graham had won re-election in 1998 in a landslide (with 62.47% of the vote), [3] and had never lost any election before (many of them by a similarly high margin). [4]

Graham's potential nomination was considered by many as appealing, due to his moderate stance. He also would appeal to the Democratic core due to his opposition to the early Iraq War (he voted against the authorization of use of military force in 2002 [5] ), and his pro-environmental record. Senator Graham held a reputation as a bright man in politics, with a good sense of humor, and he was never implicated in any scandal.

Among his political cons, however, were his cited lack of charisma, his relatively older age (67 in 2004) and recent medical problems.

Campaign

His campaign began on February 27, 2003, when he filed papers to form an exploratory committee, after delaying his intent to announce on February 3 due to having heart surgery on January 31. [6] On May 6, he formally announced his entering into the race for President of the United States in the 2004 election on the Democratic ticket.

His candidacy did not find ground, overshadowed by earlier front-runners. He performed very poorly in polls, regularly taking last place. He also cited huge fundraising problems. Howard Dean took the role of key opposition against the Iraqi war among Democratic candidates, even if Graham had been initially predicted for this role [7] (he was the only one of the 2004 Democratic candidates who voted against authorization).

He dropped out on October 6, 2003, the first major candidate to do so, and did not win a single vote in the primaries. [8]

Graham was mentioned as a possible running-mate for John Kerry, an eventual nominee (mostly in order to win Florida), but the Massachusetts senator finally selected John Edwards. Graham decided to not seek a fourth Senate term and retired from active politics on January 3, 2005.

Endorsements

Members of Congress

Other individuals

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 United States presidential election</span> 54th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 2000 United States presidential election was the 54th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000. Republican candidate George W. Bush, the governor of Texas and eldest son of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, won the election, defeating incumbent Vice President Al Gore. It was the fourth of five American presidential elections, and the first since 1888, in which the winning candidate lost the popular vote, and is considered one of the closest U.S. presidential elections, with long-standing controversy about the result. Gore conceded the election on December 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 United States presidential election</span> 53rd quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1996 United States presidential election was the 53rd quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton defeated former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the Republican nominee, and Ross Perot, the Reform Party nominee and 1992 Independent presidential candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 United States presidential election</span> 52nd quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1992 United States presidential election was the 52nd quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 3, 1992. Democratic Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas defeated incumbent Republican President George H. W. Bush, independent businessman Ross Perot of Texas, and a number of minor candidates. The election marked the end of a period of Republican dominance in American presidential politics that began in 1968, and also marked the end of 12 years of Republican rule of the White House, as well as the end of the Greatest Generation's 32-year American rule and the beginning of the baby boomers' 28-year dominance until 2020. It was the last time the incumbent president failed to win a second term until 2020, when Donald Trump lost the election to Joe Biden; it was the first such occurrence since 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 United States presidential election</span> 50th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1984 United States presidential election was the 50th quadrennial presidential election held on Tuesday, November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican president Ronald Reagan defeated Democratic former vice president Walter Mondale in a landslide victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Graham</span> American lawyer, author, and politician (born 1936)

Daniel Robert Graham is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 38th governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States senator from Florida from 1987 to 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From January 14 to June 8, 2004, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 2004 United States presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From February 10 to June 9, 1992, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1992 United States presidential election. Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1992 Democratic National Convention held from July 13 to July 16, 1992, in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2004 election. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry won the 2004 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and chose North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate on July 6, 2004. The Kerry–Edwards ticket would go on to lose the 2004 election to the Bush–Cheney ticket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign</span> Political campaign

The 1992 presidential campaign of Bill Clinton, then the governor of Arkansas, was announced on October 3, 1991, at the Old State House in Little Rock, Arkansas. After winning a majority of delegates in the Democratic primaries of 1992, the campaign announced that then-junior U.S. senator from Tennessee, Al Gore, would be Clinton's running mate. The Clinton-Gore ticket went on to defeat Republican incumbent President George H. W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle in the presidential election on November 3, 1992, and took office as the 42nd president and 45th vice president, respectively, on January 20, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Democratic National Convention</span> Political convention

The 1992 Democratic National Convention nominated Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas for president and Senator Al Gore from Tennessee for vice president; Clinton announced Gore as his running-mate on July 9, 1992. The convention was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York from July 13 to July 16, 1992. The Clinton-Gore ticket then faced and defeated their Republican opponents, President George H. W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle as well as the independent ticket of Ross Perot and James Stockdale in the 1992 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Mixson</span> American politician and farmer (1922–2020)

John Wayne Mixson was an American politician and farmer in Florida who served as the 12th lieutenant governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987, and as the 39th governor of Florida for three days in January 1987. Mixson served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1967 to 1978 prior to being elected as lieutenant governor. He was a lifelong conservative Democrat, and though he served in the Florida legislature and as Florida's lieutenant governor as a member of that party, he supported a mix of Democratic and Republican candidates for various state and national offices after retiring from elected office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1970 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. It took place on November 3, with the 33 seats of Class 1 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. These races occurred in the middle of Richard Nixon's first term as president. The Democrats lost a net of three seats, while the Republicans and the Conservative Party of New York picked up one net seat each, and former Democrat Harry F. Byrd Jr. was re-elected as an independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States presidential election in Iowa</span>

The 2004 United States presidential election in Iowa took place on November 2, 2004, as part of the 2004 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Voters chose seven electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Republican President George W. Bush and his running mate, Vice President Dick Cheney, against Democratic challenger and Senator from Massachusetts John F. Kerry and his running mate, Senator from North Carolina John Edwards. Six third parties were also on the ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 Florida gubernatorial election</span> Selection of Lawton Chiles for the state chief executive

The 1990 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Republican Governor Bob Martinez ran for a second term in office, but was defeated by Democratic challenger Lawton Chiles, a former U.S. Senator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From January 24 to June 6, 2000, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 2000 United States presidential election. Incumbent Vice President Al Gore was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 2000 Democratic National Convention held from August 14 to 17, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, but he went on to lose the Electoral College in the general election against Governor George W. Bush held on November 7 of that year, despite winning the popular vote by 0.5%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Alaska</span> Election in Alaska

The 2008 United States presidential election in Alaska took place on November 4, 2008, as part of the nationwide presidential election held throughout all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Voters chose 3 electors, or representatives to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2000 election. Incumbent Vice President Al Gore won the 2000 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and chose Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman as his running mate on August 7, 2000. Lieberman, a centrist two-term Democratic senator, was chosen for being "tough on defense" and foreign policy issues. Lieberman was the first Jew chosen for a national ticket. The choice of Lieberman was announced shortly before the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher led the vetting process. The Gore–Lieberman ticket ultimately lost to the Bush–Cheney ticket. Coincidental to the presidential election, Lieberman was re-elected to a third term as senator from Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1992 election. On June 2, 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton won the 1992 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and became the presumptive nominee. On July 9, 1992, Tennessee Senator Albert Gore, Jr. was chosen as his running mate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1988 election. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis won the 1988 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and chose Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen as his running mate. Dukakis chose Bentsen in order to appeal to Southerners and in hopes of carrying Bentsen's home state of Texas. The strategy failed, as the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket went on to lose Texas and all other states in the South except West Virginia. The choice of Bentsen caused some backlash from Jesse Jackson, who had wanted to be chosen as the vice presidential nominee, and progressives such as Ralph Nader. Paul Brountas, a longtime Dukakis aide, led the search for Dukakis's running mate. The Dukakis–Bentsen ticket would lose to the Bush–Quayle ticket in the general election. Bentsen simultaneously ran for reelection as Senator, and easily won, despite the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket's double-digit loss in Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1978 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1978. Democratic nominee Bob Graham was elected, defeating Republican nominee Jack Eckerd with 55.59% of the vote.

References

  1. THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Democrats; CLINTON SELECTS SENATOR GORE OF TENNESSEE AS RUNNING MATE – New York Times
  2. Gore, Lieberman prepare for public debut of Democratic ticket – August 7, 2000 Archived August 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Our Campaigns – FL US Senate Race – Nov 03, 1998
  4. Our Campaigns – Candidate – D. Robert "Bob" Graham
  5. U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote
  6. "Sen. Bob Graham- 2004 Presidential Candidate".
  7. What Dean's Mojo Means To The Top Contenders – TIME
  8. Our Campaigns – US President – D Primaries Race – Jan 13, 2004
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Politics1 – Profile of Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) Archived July 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Wayne Mixson - $1,250 in Political Contributions for 2004".