THEPOLITICALTRANSITION
not be able to mount an effective campaign.f- Once again, de Klerk un-
derestimated his opponents. The ANcmanaged to create quite a sophisti-
cated electoral machine, and drawing on the advice of Americans who had
assisted Bill Clinton in his 1992 presidential campaign in the United
States, it held numerous peoples' forums, where leaders listened to groups
of potential voters. It also published a Reconstruction and Development
Program, which set out plans to improve .thequality of lifefor the African
masses by creating jobs, redistributing land, providing low-cost housing,
extending the supply of electricity and clean water, and improving edu-
cation. Mandela was an indefatigable and highly successful canvasser
among Africans (although he spoke extremely slowly), but he also took
great pains to reassure the white, Coloured, and Indian minorities, em-
phasizing his goal of reconciliation between the races.63
The election 'was unexpectedly peaceful. To cope with the crowds, it
took place over four days, April 26 to 29. Television viewersthroughout
the world saw long lines of Africans waiting patiently, often for many
hours, to get to the polling stations and cast their votes. For former vote-