(2 of 2)
MOST VICIOUS AD: In California's 3rd District, a television ad from Republican Tim LeFever morphed the face of Polly Klaas' killer, Richard Allen Davis, into that of Democratic incumbent Vic Fazio.
THE SLIGHT-INCONSISTENCY MEDAL: To Al Gore, who left not a dry eye in the house at the Democratic Convention as he described his sister's death from smoking-induced lung cancer. Gore failed to mention that for some years following her death, his family continued to grow tobacco and that he continued to accept campaign money from tobacco interests.
MOST NAUSEATING SPIN: Gore explained the above by saying, "I felt the numbness that prevented me from integrating into all aspects of my life the implications of what that tragedy really meant."
BEST BRANDO IMITATION--THE WILD ONE YEARS: Liddy Dole appeared on the Tonight Show dressed in leather and riding a motorcycle.
MOST BIZARRE EXCHANGE: "You're a draft-dodging, yellow-bellied liar!" yelled Valerie Parker as the President jogged by on a beach in California. "You're a disgrace to the office of the presidency, to your gender and to this nation!" Deafened by the surf, Clinton gave her a thumbs-up sign.
ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE
In years past, TIME has always prepared two covers well before Election Night. New technology made that unnecessary this year.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
LEON RITZENTHALER, 58; Paradise, California; Retired janitorial-service owner and Bill Clinton's half brother
Not long after the Washington Post broke the story, on Father's Day 1993, that Ritzenthaler was the son of President Clinton's well-traveled father, one of Ritzenthaler's buddies joked, "Remember how Jimmy Carter had an embarrassment of a brother named Billy? Well, now Leon's got one." Although Clinton has never publicly acknowledged the relationship, he called Ritzenthaler in 1994 to wish him good luck in his heart surgery, and has written him several letters. The two met for 20 minutes last year on Jan. 17 (which happens to be Ritzenthaler's birthday). "It was on the q.t. in California," Ritzenthaler says. "There were no journalists there, just me and Bill and my wife Judy." He describes his half brother as "very nice, warm, kind, honest, up front" and says they resemble each other "in the eyes." He planned to vote for Clinton, just as he did in 1992. "He has never invited us to the White House, but I hope someday we'll get an invitation."