It was revealed today that the growth rate of the economy declined by a full fifty percent during the third quarter of 1996, and consumer spending hit a five year low, which does not bode well for the upcoming Christmas shopping season. The stock market is "narrowing", and over-speculated.
What's important to understand that if there is any one quarter during a Presidential term that's important to a re-election campaign, it's that third quarter during the fourth year; the quarter just prior to the election.
If there is any one quarter where Clinton would try to make things look really good, it would have been the third quarter of 1996. But, as the figures released today show, he didn't.
So why didn't Clinton make this all important third quarter look good?
Because Clinton CAN'T.
The economy, which was rising when Clinton ran in 1992, is in decline as he runs in 1996, AND THERE'S NOT A THING HE IS ABLE TO DO ABOUT IT.
If Clinton could not keep the economy healthy for the third quarter of 1996, then he is incapable of keeping it healthy for four more years.
IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!
