Bush defeated a challenge from conservative commentator Pat Buchanan to win his party 's nomination . Meanwhile , independent candidate Ross Perot , a billionaire businessman from Texas , emerged as a major factor in the race . Perot ran a populist campaign that focused on voters disillusioned with both parties , and he emphasized his opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement and his desire to balance the federal budget . Polls taken in early June 1992 showed Bush leading the race , followed by Perot and then Clinton . From July to September , Perot temporarily dropped out of the race , causing severe damage to his candidacy . At the 1992 Democratic National Convention , Clinton chose Senator Al Gore of Tennessee as his running mate , and the successful convention helped unify Democrats behind Clinton . While the 1992 Republican National Convention placed a heavy emphasis on social issues , Clinton 's campaign focused on the state of the economy , which was still emerging from the early 1990s recession
1992 Republican National Convention
1992 Republican National Convention
Presidency of Bill Clinton