Ahead of the 1996 primary contest , Republican Leader of the United States Senate and former vice-presidential candidate Bob Dole was seen as the most likely winner . However , Steve Forbes finished first in Delaware and Arizona while paleoconservative firebrand Pat Buchanan managed early victories in Alaska and Louisiana , in addition to a strong second place in the Iowa caucuses and a surprising victory in the small but key New Hampshire primary . Buchanan 's New Hampshire win alarmed the Republican " establishment " sufficiently as to provoke prominent Republicans to quickly coalesce around Dole , and Dole won every primary starting with North and South Dakota . Dole resigned his Senate seat on June 11 and the Republican National Convention formally nominated Dole on August 15 , 1996 for President
Republican National Convention
1996 Republican National Convention
1996 United States presidential election