1984 Democratic Party presidential primaries

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Democratic Presidential Primaries, 1984
← 1980 1984 1988 →
 
Nominee Walter Mondale Gary Hart Jesse Jackson
Party Democratic Democratic Democratic
Home state Minnesota Colorado Illinois
States carried 22 26 2 (also DC)
Popular vote 6,952,912 6,504,842 3,282,431
Percentage 38.32% 35.85% 18.09%


The Primaries

Ultimately, only three of these candidates won any state primaries: Mondale, Hart, and Jackson. Initially, former Vice-President Walter Mondale was viewed as the favorite to win the Democratic nomination. Mondale had the largest number of party leaders supporting him, and he had raised more money than any other candidate. However, both Jesse Jackson and Gary Hart emerged as surprising, and troublesome, opponents for Mondale.

Jackson was the second African-American (after Shirley Chisholm) to mount a nationwide campaign for the Presidency, and he was the first African-American candidate to be a serious contender. He garnered 3.5 million votes during the primaries, third behind Hart and Mondale. He managed to win Virginia, South Carolina, and Louisiana, and split Mississippi, where there were two separate contests for Democratic delegates. Through the primaries, Jackson helped confirm the black electorate's importance to the Democratic Party in the South at the time. During the campaign, however, Jackson made an off-the-cuff reference to Jews as "Hymies" and New York City as "Hymietown", for which he later apologized. Nonetheless, the remark was widely publicized, and derailed his campaign for the nomination.[1] Jackson ended up winning 21% of the national primary vote but received only 8% of the delegates to the national convention, and he initially charged that his campaign was hurt by the same party rules that allowed Mondale to win. He also poured scorn on Mondale, saying that Hubert Humphrey was the "last significant politician out of the St. Paul-Minneapolis" area.[2]

Colorado Senator Gary Hart was little-known when he announced his run February 1983, and barely received above 1% in the polls compared to other well-known figures. To counter this, Hart started campaigning early in New Hampshire, making a then-unprecedented canvassing tour in late September, months before the primary. This strategy attracted national media attention to his campaign, and by late 1983, he had risen moderately in the polls to the middle of the field, mostly at the expense of the sinking candidacies of John Glenn and Alan Cranston. Mondale won the Iowa caucus in late January, but Hart polled a respectable 16%. Two weeks later, in the New Hampshire primary, he shocked much of the party establishment and the media by defeating Mondale by ten percentage points. Hart instantly became the main challenger to Mondale for the nomination, and appeared to have the momentum on his side.

Hart criticized Mondale as an "old-fashioned" New Deal Democrat who symbolized "failed policies" of the past. Hart positioned himself as a younger, fresher, and more moderate Democrat who could appeal to younger voters. He emerged as a formidable candidate, winning the key Ohio, and California primaries as well as several others, especially in the West. However, Hart couldn't overcome Mondale's financial and organizational advantages, especially among labor union leaders in the Midwest and industrial Northeast. Hart was also badly hurt during a televised debate when Mondale used a popular television commercial slogan to ridicule Hart's vague "New Ideas" platform. Turning to Hart on camera, Mondale said that whenever he heard Hart talk about his "New Ideas", he was reminded of the Wendy's fast-food slogan "Where's the beef?". The remark drew loud laughter and applause from the viewing audience and caught Hart off-guard. Hart never fully recovered from Mondale's charge that his "New Ideas" were shallow and lacking in specifics. Earlier in the same Democratic primary debate, Hart committed a serious faux pas that largely went underreported. Asked what he would do if an unidentified airplane flew over the Iron Curtain from a Warsaw Pact nation, Hart replied that he'd send up a United States Air Force plane up and instruct them to determine whether or not it was an enemy plane by looking in the cockpit window to see if the pilots were wearing uniforms. Fellow candidate John Glenn, a former Marine Corps fighter pilot, replied that this was physically impossible.

At a roundtable debate between the three remaining Democratic candidates moderated by Phil Donahue, Mondale and Hart got in such a heated argument over the issue of U.S. policy in Central America that Jackson had to tap his water glass on the table to get them to simmer down.

Mondale gradually pulled away from Hart in the delegate count, but the race was not decided until June, on "Super Tuesday III".[3] Decided that day were delegates from five states: South Dakota, New Mexico, West Virginia, and the big prizes of California and New Jersey.[4] The proportional nature of delegate selection meant that Mondale was likely to obtain enough delegates on that day to secure the stated support of an overall majority of delegates, and hence the nomination, no matter who actually "won" the states contested. However, Hart maintained that unpledged superdelegates that had previously claimed support for Mondale would shift to his side if he swept the Super Tuesday III primary.[5] Once again, Hart committed a faux pas, insulting New Jersey shortly before the primary day. Campaigning in California, he remarked that while the "bad news" was that he and his wife Lee had to campaign separately, "[t]he good news for her is that she campaigns in California while I campaign in New Jersey." Compounding the problem, when his wife interjected that she "got to hold a koala bear," Hart replied that "I won't tell you what I got to hold: samples from a toxic-waste dump."[5] While Hart won California, he lost New Jersey after leading in polls by as much as 15 points.

By the time the Democratic Convention started in San Francisco Mondale had more than enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination. However, after Mondale's loss to Reagan, Hart would quickly emerge as the frontrunner for the Democratic Party's 1988 presidential nomination. He would maintain that status until a sex scandal derailed his candidacy in 1987.

The Candidates

Potential candidates who did not run

Endorsements

Some notable endorsements to the candidates (may be incomplete)

Walter Mondale

Gary Hart

Jesse Jackson

John Glenn

Reubin Askew

Ernest Hollings

Alan Cranston

Uncommitted delegates

Results by state

Walter Mondale Gary Hart Jesse Jackson John Glenn George McGovern Ernest Hollings Lane Kirkland Reubin O'Donovan Askew Alan Cranston Joe Biden Thomas Eagleton
February 20 Iowa 49% 16% 1.5% 3.5% 10% 0.1% - 2.5% 7% - -
February 28 New Hampshire 28% 37% 5% 12% 5% 3.5% 0% 1% 2% - -
March 13 Massachusetts 25.5% 39% 5% 7% 21% - - - - - -
March 2 Vermont 20% 71% 8% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
March 13 Florida 33% 40% 12% 11% 2% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1% 0%
March 16 Illinois 48% 0% 28% 0% 0% 0% 0% 16% 0% 8% 0% 0%
March 23 North Carolina 54% 0% 35% 2% 4% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
April 6 Wisconsin 37% 0% 13% 36% 6% 0% 0% 1% 4% 1% 0% 0%
April 27 Pennsylvania 37% 0% 11% 19% 25% 0% 0% 0% 3% 1% 1% 1%
March 13 Georgia 30% 28% 21% 18% 2% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
May 4 Indiana 68% 0% 15% 0% 12% 0% 0% 0% 5% 0% 0% 0%
May 11 Nebraska 38% 38% 3% 3% 2% 0% 0% 0% 3% 0% 0% 7%
May 11 West Virginia 89% 0% 11% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
May 18 Maryland 48% 37% 6% 4% 2% 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 0%
May 18 Michigan 43% 43% 7% 0% 1% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0%
May 25 Arkansas 63% 0% 17% 8% 2% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
May 25 Idaho 79% 12% 2% 2% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
May 25 Kentucky 59% 17% 11% 0% 3% 0% 0% 0% 6% 0% 0% 0%
May 25 Nevada 23% 53% 3% 3% 3% 9% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
May 25 Oregon 27% 34% 25% 1% 3% 1% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 5%
May 25 Tennessee 77% 0% 11% 4% 2% 2% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 0%
June 1 Montana 25% 59% 0% 6% 3% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
June 1 Rhode Island 27% 30% 1% 4% 1% 0% 0% 0% 4% 0% 0% 0%
June 1 South Dakota 33% 41% 2% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 8% 1% 0% 0%
June 8 California 20% 59% 3% 5% 1% 7% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 0%
June 8 New Jersey 58% 0% 9% 0% 9% 14% 0% 0% 6% 0% 0% 0%
May 8 Ohio 21% 52% 14% 6% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Convention

These were the convention's nomination tally:

When he made his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, Mondale said: "Let's tell the truth. Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so will I. He won't tell you. I just did." Although Mondale intended to expose Reagan as hypocritical and position himself as the "honest" candidate, the choice of taxes as a discussion point likely damaged his electoral chances.

Vice-Presidential nominee

Mondale chose U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York as his running mate and she was confirmed by acclamation, making her the first woman nominated for that position by a major party.

Aides later said that Mondale was determined to establish a precedent with his vice presidential candidate, considering San Francisco Mayor (Later U.S. Senator) Dianne Feinstein and Governor of Kentucky Martha Layne Collins, who were also female; Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, an African American; and San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, a Hispanic, as other finalists for the nomination.[2] Unsuccessful nomination candidate Jackson derided Mondale's vice-presidential screening process as a "P.R. parade of personalities", however he praised Mondale for his choice.

Others however preferred Senator Lloyd Bentsen because he would appeal to more conservative Southern voters. Nomination rival Gary Hart had also been lobbying for the vice-presidential spot on the ticket once it became apparent that Mondale had clinched the majority of delegates; Hart's supporters claimed he would do better than Mondale against President Reagan, an argument undercut by a June 1984 Gallup poll that showed both men nine points behind the president.

Ferraro, as Catholic, came under fire from the Roman Catholic Church for being pro-choice on abortion, in opposition to Church doctrine. Further controversy erupted over statements regarding the release of her husband's tax returns.

Politicians considered for Vice Presidential nomination[30]:

References

  1. ^ Larry J. Sabato's Feeding Frenzy. "Jesse Jackson's 'Hymietown' Remark – 1984". Washington Post.
  2. ^ a b Evan Thomas (1984-07-02). "Trying to Win the Peace". Time.
  3. ^ Ed Magnuson (1984-06-18). "Over the Top, Barely". Time.
  4. ^ George J. Church (1984-06-04). "A Big Bicoastal Finale". Time.
  5. ^ a b Evan Thomas (1984-06-11). "Last Call, and Out Reeling". Time.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Primed for a Test - TIME
  7. ^ a b Trying to Win the Peace - TIME
  8. ^ Our Campaigns - Candidate - George J. Mitchell
  9. ^ a b c Super Week Scoreboard - TIME
  10. ^ Stepping on Mondale's Lines - TIME
  11. ^ Our Campaigns - IA US President - D Caucuses Race - Jan 24, 1984
  12. ^ The Preordainment of Mondale - TIME
  13. ^ Our Campaigns - NY US President - D Primary Race - Apr 03, 1984
  14. ^ Our Campaigns - Candidate - Jim Bates
  15. ^ a b c d Our Campaigns - US President - D Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1984
  16. ^ a b c Our Campaigns - US President - D Primaries Race - Feb 20, 1984
  17. ^ Cal Thomas Official Web Site - Cards That Divide Us
  18. ^ Charting the Big Shift - TIME
  19. ^ Why won't anyone listen to Gary Hart? - Salon.com
  20. ^ Our Campaigns - CA US President - D Primary Race - Jun 05, 1984
  21. ^ Our Campaigns - Candidate - Martin Frost
  22. ^ Our Campaigns - Candidate - Marion S. Barry, Jr
  23. ^ Our Campaigns - Candidate - Orval E. Faubus
  24. ^ Our Campaigns - Candidate - William Lacy Clay, Sr
  25. ^ Our Campaigns - MA US President - D Primary Race - Mar 13, 1984
  26. ^ Our Campaigns - GA US President - D Primary Race - Mar 13, 1984
  27. ^ Our Campaigns - AL US President - D Primary Race - Mar 13, 1984
  28. ^ Our Campaigns - FL US President - D Primary Race - Mar 13, 1984
  29. ^ Our Campaigns - Candidate - William Lehman
  30. ^ Trying to Win the Peace - TIME
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