The one who dropped his ultimatum to make real debates happen would stand to win the gratitude of confused and weary voters.
In any case, most analysts (including Stevenson himself) agreed that the whole ordeal confused voters, resulting in Republican James R. Thompson winning the election.
The proponents and opponents of political change have both played to white fears in the referendum campaign, leaving some potential voters jittery or confused.
Although the ballots include instructions that theoretically guide people on how to use them properly, the county elections board has been fielding calls from confused voters.
A later directive by the supervisor of elections, Theresa LePore, a Democrat, telling precinct workers to help confused voters was prepared for all precincts on Election Day.
His body language was confused and worried, but there are probably a lot of confused and worried voters who can identify with him.
And, you know, I believe that there are also a lot of angry and confused voters out around this country.
After a long and contentious campaign that polls suggested left many voters more confused than enlightened, Proposition 103 won the approval of 51.1 percent of the state's voters on Tuesday.
Regarding the butterfly ballots, Democratic field workers were collecting some 8,000 affidavits from confused voters, and Mr. Gore's lawyers were eager to litigate.
In a nearby village the party dominates, a poll worker was heard telling confused voters to push the second button on the machine, which cast a vote for the party.