Which election was worse 1980 for Democrats or 2008 for Republicans

[OSR stands with Israel]

I would say a tie because Republicans in 2008 did worse in Congress while Carter did worse then Mccain

[Indy Texas]

A loss is a loss. Whether you lose the presidency with 200 electoral votes or 20, the outcome is still the same.

I'd argue 2008 for Republicans was worse because they came out of it with minorities in both chambers, a few votes away from not even being able to filibuster in the Senate.

By comparison, the Democrats still had the House post-1980 and were still doing very well at the state/local level.

[© tweed]

1980.  Carter entered the year as a heavy favorite.  Reagan would proceed to reshape the nature of the state more profoundly than any president since FDR -- from which we've yet to recover.



no observers worth a dime thought the Republicans would retain the WH in 2008.

[Sumner 1868]

1980 had a much worse long-term effect on the Democratic Party in specific regions than the 2008 GOP inconvenience.

[ElectionsGuy]

1980 for Democrats, undoubtedly.

I would say a tie because Republicans in 2008 did worse in Congress while Carter did worse then Mccain

Not true

[Bojack Horseman]

1980, as it set in motion the events that resulted in the South finally turning completely and totally Republican.

[Podgy the Bear]

I would say that we have to wait and see.  1980 has been noted as a watershed election--but really in Presidential politics the pieces of the puzzle began to fit in 1968, and the Republican lock lasted only 12 more years.

And 2008 seemed to have cemented a Democratic lock--but bringing Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Colorado back to the Republicans (certainly possible in 2016) changes all of that.

[OSR stands with Israel]

I would say that we have to wait and see.  1980 has been noted as a watershed election--but really in Presidential politics the pieces of the puzzle began to fit in 1968, and the Republican lock lasted only 12 more years.

And 2008 seemed to have cemented a Democratic lock--but bringing Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Colorado back to the Republicans (certainly possible in 2016) changes all of that.

Realigning wise I would definitely agree that Republicans coalition started in 1968 but hit a peak by 1980 same with 2008 as 1992 was when Democrats Coalition started but 2008 was when their party hit peak power

[hopper]

I would say a tie because Republicans in 2008 did worse in Congress while Carter did worse then Mccain

Yeah it was very hard for the Republicans to stop the "Obama Agenda" in 2009 and 2010 especially with only 40-43 Republican US Senators. Brown, and The Maine Twins had to vote with the Dems on a lot of things because they were representing Dem States. Arlen Specter's defection to the Dems hurt the Republicans during the ObamaCare debate because the Republicans couldn't filibuster. because of the Dems super majority. The Dems could stop Reagan's  Agenda if they really wanted to because at least they still had the US House Majority from 1981 to 1986 and they had both US House and US Senate Majorities in 1987 and 1988 in Reagan's last 2 years of his presidency.