We lost because the incumbent president had a 39% approval rating and 70% of Americans felt we were on the wrong track.

[standingtall]

85. I was very young, but I remember Carter losing in 1980

We were in an actual recession then and Carter's approval ratings were worse then Biden and Carter didn't have historically low unemployment rates he could point too. As far as Bush Sr. "read my lips no new taxes" and he raised taxes that hurt him. Bushed term was an extension of the Reagan/Bush administration so there might have been a bit of fatigue there. Plus a 3rd party candidate Ross Perot got a significant amount of the vote throw in a charismatic Democrat like Bill Clinton and Bush was doomed.


Also remember we only lost this election by 1.5% in the poplar vote and only lost Pennsylvania by 1.7% Michigan by 1.6% and Wisconsin by 0.9%. So I firmly believe we could've made up at least that extra 2% we needed in those 3 important swing States. Carter and Bush were not remotely close to winning and therefore not equivalent to this election.