bush beat himself in 2000.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I think it's pretty obvious that it was Gore who lost the election. If you look down-ballot, it was a good year for Democrats, gaining 4 seats in the senate, something similar in the House and picking up a gubernatorial seat, winning a total of 8/11 of gubernatorial elections. That Gore still lost the election seems to indicate that he under-performed.

A. Gore won
B. Of course the Democrats were going to gain Senate seats, it was 6 years after 1994.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Bush knew he had the media on his side, and he got arrogant. He was spending millions of dollars on California. Gore's polls were showing that he should win it, but eventually Gore decided to do one campaign stop in California (I don't think he spent any money here, though).

The Gore campaign only outspent the Bush campaign in one state: Florida. Bush knew he could count on his younger brother to deliver it.

It's always funny when they call California for the Democrat immediately when polls close, because the first precincts to report are always some wingnut ones in Orange county or somewhere.