<P> Bill Clinton Democratic </P> <P> George W. Bush Republican </P> <P> The United States presidential election of 2000 was the 54th quadrennial presidential election . It was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000 . Republican candidate George W. Bush, the Governor of Texas and the eldest son of the 41st President George H.W. Bush, narrowly defeated Democratic nominee Al Gore, the incumbent vice president . It was the fourth of five presidential elections in which the winning candidate lost the popular vote . </P> <P> Incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton was ineligible to serve a third term due to the term limits established by the 22nd Amendment . Vice President Gore was able to secure the Democratic nomination with relative ease, defeating a challenge by former Senator Bill Bradley . Bush was seen as the early favorite for the Republican nomination and, despite a contentious primary battle with Senator John McCain and other candidates, secured the nomination by Super Tuesday . Bush chose former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney as his running mate, while Gore chose Senator Joe Lieberman as his . The left - wing Green Party nominated a ticket consisting of political activists Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke . </P>

Who won the popular vote in the election of 2000