Weakest Presidential Candidate

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Who was the weakest Presidential candidate nominated in the modern era (post WWII)?  I'm inclined to say either McGovern Dukakis, or Kerry, but I guess a case could be made for Goldwater as well.

[Iosif is a COTHO]

McGovern and Goldwater weren't necessarily weak candidates. it's just that the time didn't suit them. In another era, they might have done much better (same goes for Mondale). In other words, their problems weren't due to bad campaigning.

I'd say Dukakis. He started out with a big poll lead, but his campaign was terribly unresponsive, had awful P.R and pretty much allowed Bush to define him however he wanted.


Kerry probably should have done better, but running against an incumbent is always very difficult. And, if I recall correctly, he was starting from behind in the polls.

[Sensei]

hmm... weakest? I think Ralph Nader is a wimp.

but really, I think Mondale. Definitely Mondale.

[Iosif is a COTHO]

hmm... weakest? I think Ralph Nader is a wimp.

but really, I think Mondale. Definitely Mondale.

The Democrats could have resurrected JFK to run in '84 and they'd still have gotten blown out. Just wasn't their year.

[HappyWarrior]

Definetly Dukakis, he was good at beating other Democrats but he could'nt take down a blowhard like Bush 41.  Epic Fail.

[True Democrat]

Not Goldwater, at least he stood for something.

I would actually have to say Dewey in 1948.  His campaign was pretty much sh**t.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I would actually have to say Dewey in 1948.  His campaign was pretty much sh**t.

I concur with True Democrat. Governor Dewey should have easily encountered for President Truman in '48. I wouldn't be surprised had Taft won the nomination in '48, that he would have done better than Dewey. (Even though one EV map of mine on the Election What Ifs board, is quite the opposite).

I would also have to say Governor Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts. Now he should have defeated Vice President Bush in 1988. He had a 17 point advantage over Bush after both Conventions but then it slipped away. We can thank his PR team for that, as HappyWarrior said and also his unresponsiveness to Bush's attacks on Dukakis about Willie Horton.

[Sensei]

hmm... weakest? I think Ralph Nader is a wimp.

but really, I think Mondale. Definitely Mondale.

The Democrats could have resurrected JFK to run in '84 and they'd still have gotten blown out. Just wasn't their year.

Still, Mondale can't campaign himself out of a wet paper bag.

[exopolitician]

Id go with Dewey too. He only made 16 speechs to Trumans +200 during that campaign. It was as if he was expected to have the Presidency handed too him...kinda unfortunate.

[TomC]

"Mr. Reagan will raise taxes; and so will I. He won't tell you. I just did."

Yep. Mondale.

[WalterMitty]

it wasnt mondale.

in an earlier time, perhaps a decade or two earlier, mondale would have been a terrific candidate.  an establishment figure, with strong ties to all of the democrat key constituent groups.

unfortunately for mondale he ran at the time the liberal era was dying...and of course he ran against a popular incumbent.

george mcgovern also promised to raise taxes to fund his $1,000 income idea.  that was a very controversial and ridiculed idea.  but today we essentially have that with the earned income tax credit.

[PBrunsel]

General W. S. Hancock in 1880.

"What is tariff and why is he for revenue only?"

[Daniel Adams]

General W. S. Hancock in 1880.

"What is tariff and why is he for revenue only?"

Actually, Hancock ran a very strong campaign and his loss to Garfield with the smallest popular vote margin in history. Of course he never said that quote; it comes from a Thomas Nast cartoon.

[Mr.Phips]

Dewey in 1948.  Quite possibly the worst campaign ever.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Dewey 1948
McGovern 1972
Mondale 1984
Dukakis 1988

Kerry, keep in mind, held Bush to the smallest % re-election margin recorded.

[Хahar 🤔]

Dukakis

The Mondale message would've resonated in 1992.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I wouldn't say that Mondale's campaign in 1984 was necessarily weak. It just happened to be 1984 and America was in love with Ronald Reagan and the message of "Morning in America". What did Mondale respond to that? We'll raise taxes

[WalterMitty]

Dukakis

The Mondale message would've resonated in 1992.

uh no.

there was a mondale in the 92 race.  his name was tom harkin.

[Stranger in a strange land]

all in all, probably Kerry: stultifying stump presence, flip-flopping,  and a career politician with little to show for it.

[Nym90]

Dukakis

The Mondale message would've resonated in 1992.

uh no.

there was a mondale in the 92 race.  his name was tom harkin.

He was probably referring to the general, where Harkin likely would've beaten Bush (albeit by a narrower margin than Clinton did).

Weakest of all time was probably either John Davis in 1924 or Alton Parker in 1904. Those guys were pretty bad....

In the modern TV era I'd say Dukakis was the worst candidate. Gore in 2000 was easily the worst campaign though.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I think it depends what is meant by "weakest". Dukakis underperformed for sure, but he was more electable than McGovern (or, for that matter, Goldwater) could ever have been.

[The Hack Hater]

I think it depends what is meant by "weakest". Dukakis underperformed for sure, but he was more electable than McGovern (or, for that matter, Goldwater) could ever have been.

If we were to define weakest as "no chance in hell" at the time, than McGovern may very well fit the bill. His liberal policies were much too soon, especially since Nixon was drawing down our troops in 'Nam at the time.

But Kerry to me seems unappealing. The only reason he ever had any kind of chance in the first place was because of the war. A veteran perhaps, but a total political hack.

[Michael Z]

Mondale, without a shadow of a doubt. His campaign was about as inspiring as a deckchair.

[YRABNNRM]

Kerry, keep in mind, held Bush to the smallest % re-election margin recorded.

I, personally, believe that was anti-Bush, not pro-Kerry. If Kerry was a good candidate he would've won that election.

[Franzl]

I'd say Dewey in 1948. He really had a good chance to beat Truman, but blew it while trying to play cautiously. He could have won easily.