Reply #145: BCCI did not hurt George H. W. Bush during the 1992 race to any significant extent.

[burning rain]

Any more than Iran-Contra cost him in 1988. In 88 he had a better campaign than Dukakis; In 92 he had a worse one than Clinton. The idea he'd have been impeached over it is fanciful, and your suggestion he threw the 92 race in an earlier post, is bizarre. He fought for re-election like a bastard in his clumsy way. Nothing was too underhanded, even rifling Clinton's FBI and passport files. Dukakis was a weak candidate whom Iran/Contra could not put over the top; Clinton was a strong candidate who didn't need BCCI. Bush the Elder was not seen as a corrupt bastard any more in 92 than 88. The issue was the economy, and Clinton and his War Room beat back countless attempts to divert attention: whether to "bimbo eruptions," allegations of youthful radicalism, draftdodging, etc. As for the 2004 election in Ohio, Kerry was short 136,000 votes with ca. 250,000 provisional ballots to count, and concluded that it was just to steep a hill to climb. I think they were right.