In fact, many said this election cycle was characterized by a dearth of overriding, nationwide concerns.

"There is no national driving issue," said Kurt Victor, a congressional correspondent for the National Journal magazine.

By effectively appealing to local priorities, Democrats were able to defeat Republicans in several hotly contested races. Particularly in the South and the West, candidates with education and HMO reform platforms won the day.

"The Democrats fought with moderate politics and mainstream message against right-wing Republicans," said Joseph N. Sanberg '01, vice president of the Massachusetts College Democrats.

"The issues that dominated--like Social Security and the environment--were ones on which voters identify with Democrats," Sanberg added.

While Republicans were counting on anger at scandal surrounding the president to mobilize conservative voters across the country, the American people declined to punish Democratic candidates for President Clinton's relationship with former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky.

The Tactics

Pundits on both sides of the aisle said Republican attempts to highlight the president's sexual misconduct in the course of local and statewide campaigns backfired.

Rather than convince GOP supporters to head to the polls, the anti-Clinton message became a weapon for Democrats, who accused Republicans of lacking concrete programs to offer the public.

"There were more likely to be negative reactions to Republican anti-Clinton ads than positive ones, "McCurry said.

Poll results indicated that the Lewinsky affair would not resonate with voters in most of the country, but Republicans attempted to use it in select regions, where they believed it would encourage right-wing constituents to vote.

Democrats seized these targeted Republican ads and promoted them nationally, seeking to impress the electorate at-large with GOP pettiness.

"The American people focused on what the Republicans have tried to do--to make this election about investigating the president--and what the Democrats have done--to make it about issues," said Tony Wyche, a Democratic National Committee spokesperson.

Playing the Race Card?

Democrats may also have benefited from stumping by Vice President Al Gore '69 and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who barnstormed in districts where races were tight.