“October Surprises” That Shook Up Presidential Elections

october surprise

W’s Drunk Driving Arrest Surfaces (2000)
Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush were locked in a tight race in what would become a contested and ultimately controversial race to the presidency. And when news of Bush’s 1976 drunk driving arrest hit the headlines, W issued a partial apology. That said, it didn’t add up to a loss. After a 36-day recount, Bush narrowly beat Gore in the Electoral College vote, but lost the popular vote — the fourth time in history a candidate was awarded the presidency without winning the popular vote.