<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> <P> Both major party candidates focused primarily on domestic issues, such as the budget, tax relief, and reforms for federal social insurance programs, although foreign policy was not ignored . Due to Clinton's sex scandal with Monica Lewinsky and subsequent impeachment, Gore avoided campaigning with Clinton . Republicans denounced Clinton's indiscretions, while Gore criticized Bush's alleged lack of experience . </P> <P> On election night, it was unclear who had won, with the electoral votes of the state of Florida still undecided . The returns showed that Bush had won Florida by such a close margin that state law required a recount . A month - long series of legal battles led to the contentious, 5--4 Supreme Court decision of Bush v. Gore, which ended the recount . With the end of the recount, Bush won Florida by a margin of . 009%, or 537 votes . The Florida recount and subsequent litigation resulted in a major post-election controversy, and various individuals and organizations have speculated about who would have won the election in various scenarios . Ultimately, Bush won 271 electoral votes, one more than was necessary for the majority, and narrowly lost the popular vote to Gore . </P> <P> Article Two of the United States Constitution provides that the President and Vice President of the United States must be natural - born citizens of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for a period of at least 14 years . Candidates for the presidency typically seek the nomination of one of the political parties of the United States, in which case each party devises a method (such as a primary election) to choose the candidate the party deems best suited to run for the position . Traditionally, the primary elections are indirect elections where voters cast ballots for a slate of party delegates pledged to a particular candidate . The party's delegates then officially nominate a candidate to run on the party's behalf . The general election in November is also an indirect election, where voters cast ballots for a slate of members of the Electoral College; these electors in turn directly elect the President and Vice President . </P>

The 2000 presidential election was determined by the contested results of