When have losing candidates (of a major party) in a Presidential election not attend the inaugural ceremony?
Weird – I’d have assumed **no **losing candidate would attend the inaugural (are they waiting for a recount?), but this article is claiming Romney’s absence was the first since Dukakis. Must be something in the water on Beacon Hill :rolleyes:
It’s an outdoor ceremony in Washington DC in January. Some years, it’s bitterly cold on that podium. So I can well understand why a losing candidate might choose to stay home.
Hmm… after Dukakis (1988) we have the following losing candidates:
1992 - Bush 41 - Outgoing sitting POTUS
1996 - Dole - barely 7 months out of post as Senate ML
2000 - Gore - Outgoing sitting VP
2004 - Kerry - Sitting Senator
2008 - McCain - Sitting Senator
So they were all people who would be in town for the event anyway and probably expected as a matter of protocol to at least be present at part of the ceremonies, save for Dole who though no longer in office was likely recognized elder statesman standing by the Senate leadership.
But if I’m a regular citizen or someone with a real job elsewhere, like Mitt and Mike, I should not think I’d be expected there.
John Adams set the precedent. He skipped Jefferson’s inauguration.