What Hillary Clinton can learn from Al Gore's mistakes — and George H.W. Bush's successes

E.J. Dionne at The Washington Post has a good column today outlining how Hillary Clinton can model her 2016 campaign on George H.W. Bush's 1988 campaign, the last time an incumbent party held on to a third consecutive presidential term. It will require Clinton to perform an "intricate two-step" with President Obama — leaning on him to propel turnout from the base, while carving out room for how she can improve on his performance — and to hammer home the idea that Republicans are not prepared to govern.

Clinton will also have another model to learn from: Al Gore's 2000 campaign, which saw the vice president squander strong fundamentals (i.e. peace and prosperity) partly by keeping a scandal-tainted Bill Clinton at a distance.

For Hillary Clinton, the lesson is clear: carefully embracing a successful predecessor is a far better move than pretending he doesn't exist. Her road to the presidency will invariably go through Obama.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up