[JulieRNR21]

If the story had come out two weeks or a month in advance, Pres. Bush could probably have used it to his advantage. He's driving slowly, accepts full responsibility, his parents hold him accountable, he cleans up his act, dotes on his wife, goes to Bible class - pretty admirable to most Americans, imho. Only a last-minute smear would work to bring down his numbers. Of course he would have won the popular vote.

Exactly.....the timing of just a few days before Election Day...had a devastating effect.

I recall making calls to registered Republicans to get out the vote that weekend & Monday....many 'conservatives' told me they would not vote for Gore but couldn't vote for Bush because 'he hadn't admitted the DUI arrest during the campaign'.

The Rats strategy worked very well. I also recall that the sister of Chris Lahane (one of Gore's pit bulls) worked in the law office of the attorney that 'found' the DUI record!

[Robert A Cook PE]

This story was "marketed" by Gore operators (in cases, by pushing the dnc story under the reporters' motel room doors) for several times before the elections, but rejected by the press until the weekend before.