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With the Clinton era coming to an end, the nation was enjoying a prosperous economy fueled by the explosive rise of Internet businesses in the late 1990s. The Monica Lewinsky sex scandal, in which President Clinton was accused of inappropriate conduct with a White House intern, had less effect than Republican leaders hoped; it caused them to lose seats in the 1998 midterms, which is an unusual event (the party controlling the White House typically loses seats in midterms).
Nonetheless, Republicans were hopeful to regain the White House in 2000. The early front-runner in the race was Texas governor George W. Bush, the son of former President Bush. "Dubya" had been considered presidential timber since a meeting with ex-cabinet member George Schulz in early 1998. Among other GOP hopefuls, Dan Quayle, Elizabeth Dole, Lamar Alexander, and Bob Smith dropped out of the race before the primaries started for lack of funds or support. The pool of candidates who would actually contest the Republican primaries was whittled down to Bush, John McCain, Alan Keyes, Steve Forbes, Gary Bauer, and Orrin Hatch. Bush swept the opening Iowa caucus and looked to be the front runner as Hatch dropped out and endorsed him. By now McCain was the most serious remaining challenger and the other candidates abandoned their efforts. The Arizona Senator enjoyed a surprise victory in the New Hampshire primary but Bush beat him in South Carolina.
Nonetheless, Republicans were hopeful to regain the White House in 2000. The early front-runner in the race was Texas governor George W. Bush, the son of former President Bush. "Dubya" had been considered presidential timber since a meeting with ex-cabinet member George Schulz in early 1998. Among other GOP hopefuls, Dan Quayle, Elizabeth Dole, Lamar Alexander, and Bob Smith dropped out of the race before the primaries started for lack of funds or support. The pool of candidates who would actually contest the Republican primaries was whittled down to Bush, John McCain, Alan Keyes, Steve Forbes, Gary Bauer, and Orrin Hatch. Bush swept the opening Iowa caucus and looked to be the front runner as Hatch dropped out and endorsed him. By now McCain was the most serious remaining challenger and the other candidates abandoned their efforts. The Arizona Senator enjoyed a surprise victory in the New Hampshire primary but Bush beat him in South Carolina.