Pete Wilson
Pete announced on September 28 that he is dropping out of the race. He just plain ran out of money, steam, and hope. But keep an eye on Pete. The recent chumminess between him and Bob Dole (who's offered to help him retire his campaign debt) has fueled more vice-presidential rumors. The following bit is how we felt about Pete before he gave up:
Pete Wilson bills himself as the "Republican the Clinton White House fears most." He just may be right. Pete believes he will emerge as the only plausible alternative to Bob Dole, and when Republicans start doubting Dole's ability to beat Clinton, it'll be Wilson to the rescue.
The Wilson camp believes they can beat Clinton because Pete's socially moderate/fiscally conservative image will appeal to conservative Democrats. But Pete's got some problems. His home-state support is more than a little shaky since he betrayed his promise to serve out his term as Governor and not seek the presidency in 1996. He's got to prove that he can take California away from Clinton.
A bigger problem is that even if he could beat Clinton in general, Pete's got to win the primary first. That means getting past the religious right, who are none too happy about Pete's pro-choice stand on abortion. Some pundits say that Pete is keeping one eye on the V.P. slot, hoping to position himself as the heir apparent in 2000 or 2004.
In any case, Wilson will need to shake his chameleon image. Once a strong supporter of affirmative action and immigration, he's lately been at the head of national movements against both. He also backed down on his pledge to try to remove the pro-life plank from the Republican Party platform. He'll have a hard time selling voters another President who doesn't stick to his guns.
- Wilson Watch
- Wanna get the lowdown on a guy? Ask around in his home town (or at least his home state.) This website allows you to do just that: with coverage of Wilson's presidential campaign by the San Jose Mercury News. Read about how Wilson's political ambitions have come before the needs of Californians.
- Pete Wilson For President
- A very sarcastic website. Read about how Pete is "locking up" everyone who wouldn't vote for him anyway, such as immigrants. Remember Prop. 187.
- 1994 California Voter Information: Pete Wilson
- Light background plus a little statement by the man himself. You can also see the election returns from his victorious 1994 bid for Governor.