The 2000 Presidential ElectionPresidential election cycles are always three-ring circuses, and the 2000 election has become one of the biggest circuses of all time. With a two-term president unable to seek reelection, the House of Representatives clearly in play, and Democrats counting on big gains in the Senate — even hoping to take control of it — the stakes in this year's elections are high. Republicans' optimism rests on their belief that they will retake the White House after an eight-year hiatus. Republican Party insiders believe Americans are tired of Bill Clinton, have doubts about Vice President Al Gore and are ready for change. Republican turnout was down in 1998, which partly explains the party's poor showing in off-year elections. And even the most loyal Republican would agree that the party's recent presidential nominees, Bob Dole and former President George Herbert Walker Bush (in 1992), failed to excite Republicans and independents. Republican strategists believe being at the top of the ticket in 2000 will help all Republican candidates. Democrats have reason to be concerned about the presidential race. While Republicans held the White House for three consecutive terms from 1980 to 1992, voters often tire of a party after two terms. Ethics questions and controversies involving Clinton and Gore also gave Republicans ammunition. And recent history is not on the Democrats' side. Only four sitting vice presidents – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren and George Bush – have been directly elected to the presidency in the entire history of the country. Al Gore hopes to make five. Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush has bounced back from a rocky start to the primary season and tried to make education his most important issue. Surveys conducted throughout the summer showed him with an early lead, which grew significantly just before the GOP national convention. Those same polls showed voters giving him high marks on his ability to handle key issues, including traditional Democratic issues such as health care, education and Social Security. More importantly, those same polls showed him a significant advantage over the vice president in the area of ​​leadership. But Gore changed all that with his performance on the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Whether it is the middle of paper, much publicized, the seats and control of this body. The Reform and Green parties still remain a question mark. While the Reform Party was divided from the start between its Pat Buchanan and John Hagelin wings, Buchanan eventually got the $12.6 million in federal funds he was owed. But Buchanan, who was considered a headache for Bush, turned out to be no factor. Hagelin is the Natural Law Party candidate, although he is also on some state ballots as a reform candidate. Meanwhile, Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate, has become a factor in the presidential race. While he clearly lost some support after the Democratic convention, he appeared to gain ground in October, increasing his vote in key states, like Oregon and Washington. The presidential race appears headed for a showdown in a dozen states, with bigger results in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and the Northwest. It is very clear that the issues of..