Defeated nominees that made major impact (and miserable losers)

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Barry Goldwater: Doesn't require an explanation. Those who don't know about the role of his campaign in realignment should be banned forever.

George McGovern: First he played a key role in making presidential primaries dominating process in selecting the candidate (McGovern–Fraser Commission). Then he became the first nominee chosen under new rules.

Al Smith: While buried in an epic landslide, his candidacy started a realignment leading to FDR's New Deal coalition. Thanks to him Democrats made gains among the urban, blue-collar and Catholic voters.

William Jennings Bryan: Three-times loser who outset Bourbons from power within the party.

Michael Dukakis: Yes, he made an impact by causing Democrats by his failure to embrace "Third Way" in order to finally win during conservative era.


And here are some of the miserable losers, that made no impact whatsoever.

Alton B. Parker: The last hurrah of Bourbon Democrats. More of a burial.

John W. Davis: The last truly conservative Democrat nominated. 28%, only Douglas did worse, but that was a four-way race.

Alf Landon: Terrible campaign, terrible electoral burial.

Adlai Stevenson: Outstanding figure, but as presidential nominee was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb.

Walter Mondale: I like Walter, but...


Discuss!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Henry Clay, John C. Fremont, maybe Horace Greeley, should probably count as important losers.

The miserables on the other hand can probably add C.C. Pinckney And William Wirt to their ranks.

[You kip if you want to...]

Al Gore and John Kerry need no explanation really.

[Beet]

Most defeated losers had no real impact. People like Bryan and Goldwater created legacies because of their winning primary campaigns. McGovern had done his damage by the '72 general and his campaign was completely irrelevant.