Who ran a better campaign?

[Beet]

It’s worth noting that 2000 was a very boring, sleepy election that only became (in)famous because of the Election Night results. If Gore would’ve embraced Clinton and put a little more effort into his campaign, Bush would probably be remembered today in the same vein as Dukakis. The FL thing would be remembered as obscure election trivia if Gore would’ve won AR, TN, and NH.

OTOH, Trump won his election through sheer energy and force of will. 2016 was also a much smoother Election Night for Trump than 2000 was for Bush. Despite going into the night as a greater than 2-1 underdog, he managed to wrap up NC and FL pretty quickly and painlessly, and turned several Lean D states into tossups pretty early in the evening. I think the 2000 results were affected by the coverage, whereas 2016 was going to be Trump’s night regardless.

The 2000 election was only boring and sleepy in retrospect. At the time it was probably more exciting than the 1996 election.

[South Dakota Democrat]

It’s worth noting that 2000 was a very boring, sleepy election that only became (in)famous because of the Election Night results. If Gore would’ve embraced Clinton and put a little more effort into his campaign, Bush would probably be remembered today in the same vein as Dukakis. The FL thing would be remembered as obscure election trivia if Gore would’ve won AR, TN, and NH.

OTOH, Trump won his election through sheer energy and force of will. 2016 was also a much smoother Election Night for Trump than 2000 was for Bush. Despite going into the night as a greater than 2-1 underdog, he managed to wrap up NC and FL pretty quickly and painlessly, and turned several Lean D states into tossups pretty early in the evening. I think the 2000 results were affected by the coverage, whereas 2016 was going to be Trump’s night regardless.

The 2000 election was only boring and sleepy in retrospect. At the time it was probably more exciting than the 1996 election.

There are few elections that weren't more exciting than the 1996 election.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Bush you could argue flipped an even more solidly Dem state than Trump did (WV) and without it he loses

[All Along The Watchtower]

Trump. How is this even a question?

[Mr. Smith]

Trump. How is this even a question?

Considering just how many campaign managers that got axed, all the states that swung against him in such a favorable environment, and how he managed to still lose by 3 million to the most unpopular opponent imaginable?

[twenty42]

Trump. How is this even a question?

Considering just how many campaign managers that got axed, all the states that swung against him in such a favorable environment, and how he managed to still lose by 3 million to the most unpopular opponent imaginable?

Lol such a favorable environment...with every single prognosticator assuring he had zero shot of winning and the mainstream media treating him as if he were Satan Incarnate.

These posts about how Trump was favored in 2016 reek of LSD and angel dust.

[dw93]

Trump. How is this even a question?

Considering just how many campaign managers that got axed, all the states that swung against him in such a favorable environment, and how he managed to still lose by 3 million to the most unpopular opponent imaginable?

Lol such a favorable environment...with every single prognosticator assuring he had zero shot of winning and the mainstream media treating him as if he were Satan Incarnate.

These posts about how Trump was favored in 2016 reek of LSD and angel dust.

I think favorable environment means that based on economic fundamentals, international fundamentals, and the overall mood of the country. I think on those measures, before you factor in Trump, the political/electoral environment in 2016 did ever so slightly favor the GOP.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Trump, as strange as that sounds:

Bush nearly lost an election he was supposed to win by several points because he wasted time campaigning in Safe Democratic states.

Trump won an election he was supposed to lost by several points in part due to successfully barnstorming several Democratic-leaning states in the last few weeks.

This.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Who flipped 13 states and won 6 of them by a lot, while receiving almost no pushback?

And whom flipped 6 states, but won only 2 of them by anything big, while receiving a lot of pushback?

The DUI and Comey were the event turners that pretty much skewed results from what the campaigns really were.

Bush "flipped" the following states:

Arizona
Arkansas
Florida
Kentucky
Louisiana
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
Ohio
Tennessee
West Virginia

The Green states are states that went for Clinton twice with less than 50% of the vote due to Perot voters.  The red states produced Clinton majorities in 1996 that regressed seriously.

One of the forgotten moments of the 2000 campaign is that Ross Perot, himself, delivered a last-minute endorsement to George W. Bush, which had an impact in those key states.  Really, that endorsement has proven to be Perot's swan song in politics; he and his voters quietly rejoined the GOP and were not much heard from again . . . until Donald Trump woke up what was left of them.

Truly, the nation is MORE Democratic in terms of the normal popular vote now, than it was in 2000.