The Enthymeme Gap in the 1996 Presidential Campaign

Abstract

111 Democratic and 79 Republican speeches and 56 Democratic and 31 Republicans ads that were delivered or appeared during the presidential campaign between the conventions and election day, we found Clinton blunting the traditional Republican argument that Democrats favor big intrusive government and oppose family values by arguing that he had used government to protect women's rights, health, and children from the assaults of Dole-Gingrich and their alliesthe tobacco and gun lobbies. This theme was reinforced by Democratic ads that situated Clinton within the context of the