Most embarrassing campaign by election

[TheTide]

1968:

Ds: LBJ, given that he was an incumbent president and was forced to pull out due to a poor performance against an insurgent candidate.
Rs: Romney. Should have had the nomination on a platter, but blew it and in so doing allowed the political comeback of Nixon.

1972:

Ds: Muskie. Lost his frontrunner status in spectacular fashion even if it wasn't entirely his fault, and the tears.

1976:

Ds: Not sure, maybe Wallace.
Rs: Ford, given that he was an incumbent president who almost lose the nomination.

1980:

Ds: Ted Kennedy. Could have won the nomination with a more competent campaign.
Rs: Probably Connally, the party switcher.

1984:

Ds: I think this was the one where Jackson made his antisemitic remark about New York City, so him.

1988:

Ds: Gary Hart or Joe Biden.
Rs: Alexander Haig. Former SoS, but went nowhere.

1992:

Ds: Maybe Tom Harkin or Bob Kerrey.
Rs: George H. W. Bush. Did badly enough to display the frictions and divisions within the GOP.

1996:

Rs: Pete Wilson. Governor of California, didn't even make it to the actual primaries.

2000:

Ds: Bradley should have won at least one state somewhere.
Rs: Dan Quayle, which is perhaps not surprising.

2004:

Ds: Lieberman, given his spot on the ticket four years earlier. I suppose Clark didn't exactly cover himself in glory either after the initial hype.

2008:

Ds: Dodd, if anyone realised that he was running.
Rs: Giuliani, but Thompson isn't that far behind. Both should have at least won some primary contests.

2012:

Rs: Pawlenty. I'm counting those who ran but didn't make it to any actual contests, in case that isn't clear already.

2016:

Ds: O'Malley, given how good he looked on paper (and how good he looked in general). Chafee was amusing too.
Rs: Jeb!, then perhaps Scott Walker (the latter, again, looked good on paper).

2020:

Ds: O'Rourke, given how he was the most hyped Democrat in the country during and just after the midterms.

2024:

Rs: DeSantis, clearly, then Pence.