The 2000 Presidential ElectionPresidential election cycles are always three-ring circuses, and the 2000 election has become one of the biggest circuses ever seen. With a two-term president unable to seek reelection, the House of Representatives clearly up for grabs, and Democrats banking on major gains in the Senate – even hoping to gain control – there is much at stake in this year's elections. The Republicans' optimism is based on their belief that they will regain the White House after an eight-year hiatus. GOP insiders believe Americans are tired of Bill Clinton, have doubts about Vice President Al Gore and are ready for change. Republican turnout declined in 1998, which helps explain the party's poor showing in the year-end elections. And even the most loyal Republicans will agree that the party's recent presidential nominees, Bob Dole and former President George Herbert Walker Bush (in 1992), have failed to enthuse Republicans and independents. GOP strategists think the strength at the top in 2000 will help all Republican candidates. Democrats have reason to worry about the presidential race. While Republicans held the White House for three consecutive terms from 1980 to 1992, voters often tire of one party after two terms. Ethical issues and controversies involving Clinton and Gore also provided ammunition for Republicans. And recent history is not on the Democrats' side. Only four sitting vice presidents – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren and George Bush – have been directly elected to the presidency in the nation's entire history. Al Gore hopes to reach five. Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, has bounced back from a shaky start during the primary season and sought to make education his most important issue. Polls throughout the summer showed him with an early lead, which grew significantly just before the GOP national convention. Those same polls showed that voters gave him high marks for his ability to handle key issues, including traditional Democratic ones like health care, education and Social Security. More importantly, those same polls gave him a significant lead over the vice president in terms of leadership. But Gore changed all that with his performance on the final day of the Democratic national convention in Los Angeles. Whether it's the highly publicized seats... the paper medium... and still gaining control of that body? The Reformed and Green parties still remain a question mark. While the Reform Party was split early between its wings of Pat Buchanan and John Hagelin, Buchanan was finally awarded the $12.6 million in federal funds owed to the party. But Buchanan, thought to be a headache for Bush, turned out to be a non-factor. Hagelin is the candidate of the Natural Law Party, although he is also in some state elections as the Reform candidate. Meanwhile, Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate, has become a factor in the presidential contest. Although he clearly lost some support after the Democratic convention, he appears to have gained ground in October, increasing his vote in key states, such as Oregon and Washington. The presidential race appears to be headed for a showdown in a dozen states, with major results in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and the Northwest. It is clear that the stakes in the 2000 election are very high. But the voters don't seem to.