User:Informant16/George H. W. Bush presidential campaign, 1992

In 1992, U.S. President George H. W. Bush ran unsuccessfully for a second term.

Background
In August 1991, Bush stated that the only thing that would prevent him from seeking a second term would be in the event of a health issue, receiving a medical examination the following month that declared him to be in "perfect" health. Bush filed papers with the Federal Election Commission for a re-election campaign on October 12, 1991. The committee's name, Bush-Quayle '92 Primary Committee, drew calm to concerns of Quayle being dropped from the ticket. On December 11, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan announced his entry into the Republican primary, in his announcement speech charging Bush with losing touch with both conservative ideals and the American people in addition to becoming consumed with foreign affairs.

Primary
On February 12, 1992, Bush announced his re-election campaign at the beginning of a speech at the J.W. Marriott Hotel: "I want to continue serving as your President, 4 more years. So from this moment on, I'm a candidate for President of the United States, officially."

February contests
In the days proceeding Bush's announcement, Quayle traveled to New Hampshire and insisted a vote for Bush was sending a message to the Democratic Party-controlled Congress, asserting the incumbent president as having the only plan that would restore economic prosperity and that Buchanan was aware he was not going to be the party's nominee in the general election. Bush received 53.20% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary on February 18 to Buchanan's 37.54%. In a statement, Bush acknowledged the closeness of the race and said the results were a message of American concern for the future. Alternatively, the margin of victory concerned the White House and was seen as the direct result of Bush primarily abstaining from the state while Buchanan campaigned heavily there. The thin margin of victory was noted to have "made many Democrats agree with Phil Angelides, the California Democratic chairman, who asserted that the Democratic nomination in 1992 was the most valuable since 1976, when the Republicans were reeling from Watergate, and Jimmy Carter defeated President Gerald R. Ford."

Buchanan lost a court bid to have his name added to the ballot in the South Dakota primary, resulting in Bush being the only candidate listed. He received 69.32% in the February 25 primary. The same day as the primary, Bush attended a campaign fundraiser at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

March contests
Bush traveled through Georgia in the days leading up the March 3 primary, a move that was said to reflect concerns among his allies about the stakes involved in the primary. The Bush campaign emphasized the military tradition in the South and themes of family and faith in both local community and in one's country. Both Bush and Buchanan made appearances in churches, signifying an understanding by both candidates in the importance of the Christian vote. Bush received 64.30% in the Georgia primary, in addition to 70.15% and 67.51% in the concurrent Maryland and Colorado contests. In a statement, Bush thanked Georgia voters for bringing the campaign "another step closer to our goal of winning every primary and caucus" and stated his confidence in the campaign being "seven-for-seven in this election season" after the votes were counted in both Maryland and Colorado. The following day, Bush attended a campaign fundraiser at the Omni Westshore Hotel in Tampa, Florida.