Perhaps, but I suspect “read my lips, no more taxes” and Ross Perot taking a large chunk of republican voters might have more to do with it.
Perot got almost 20% of the vote which is huge amount for a third party candidate, and being a succesful buisnessman and outsider as opposed to the government bureaucrat Bush made him appeal to many traditionally republican voters.
Perot supposedly drew equal numbers of voters from both sides, and I can see how that would be the case. If you wanted an “outsider”, Clinton was the governor of a small southern state who openly flouted political norms and was affectionately nicknamed “Bubba”. (In reality he was groomed for the ruling elite from his youth, but at the time people still fell for the Bubba act, just like they did less than 20 years previously for “Jimmy” Carter). The country wasn’t as polarized back then, or at least was polarized differently. Perot carved out his own lane in a lot of ways, but for every conservative Republican who was upset at Bush, there was probably a unionized auto worker and lifelong Democrat who was upset at Clinton for selling out on NAFTA.
GHWB also lied during the presidential debates. Afterward, his staff said, basically 'oops, sorry for the error'. That is, they were relying on Brandolini's Law to hold - and for people to believe the lie.
Perhaps, but I suspect “read my lips, no more taxes” and Ross Perot taking a large chunk of republican voters might have more to do with it.
Perot got almost 20% of the vote which is huge amount for a third party candidate, and being a succesful buisnessman and outsider as opposed to the government bureaucrat Bush made him appeal to many traditionally republican voters.