Question

Who won the Presidential election in both 1992 and 1996 but did not reach the 50% mark in either election. Ross Perot helped him win in 1992 by taking votes from George H. W. Bush. In 1996 he won in yet another 3 way race against Perot (I) and Dole (R). Benefited from a period of great economic growth. His time in office was rocked by 2 scandals - Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky. Became the 2nd President to be impeached?

1) Bill Clinton
2) George H. W. Bush
3) Ross Perot
4) Bob Dole

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 1. Bill Clinton won the Presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 without surpassing 50% of the popular vote, in part due to Ross Perot's third-party candidacy. Clinton faced scandals such as Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky but was re-elected due to economic prosperity and significant support from women voters.

Step-by-step explanation:

The individual who won the Presidential election in both 1992 and 1996 but did not secure over 50% of the popular vote in either election was Bill Clinton. During the 1992 election, Texas billionaire Ross Perot entered the race as a third-party candidate, arguably drawing away votes from incumbent President George H. W. Bush, which is considered to have aided Clinton's victory despite receiving only 43 percent of the popular vote.

Clinton's first term benefited from his administration's economic policies amidst a period of economic growth. However, his tenure was marred by various scandals, including Whitewater and the Monica Lewinsky affair, which led to him becoming only the second president to be impeached after Andrew Johnson.

In 1996, Clinton won re-election in another three-way race against Republican nominee Bob Dole and again, Ross Perot. This time, Clinton secured a larger percentage of the popular vote at 49 percent and won decisively in the Electoral College. Clinton's victories in both elections were also attributed to a significant gender gap, with a higher percentage of women voters supporting him.