why did bush perform so poorly in new york?

[Mechaman]

In 2000 it was indeed gun control. Support for it was higher in the past, especially in the Northeast/urban areas.

I know gun control was an issue in the 90's and in the 2000 election, but 60%?!
There is certainly more at play here.  Gore was an objectively worse candidate than Clinton, but he somehow did better in New York (despite having the exact same gun views as Clinton did).  Methinks there was more at play here than triggerlocks and whether or not some psycho can get an assault rifle in Queens County on a Sunday and shoot up some Unitarian Churches.  Hell, Bush pretty much had the same views on AWB as Gore did, the differences between them on the gun issue are highly exaggerated.  Besides, the most important issue at the time seemed to be about
A LOCKBOX-
Shut up Al.

[Mechaman]

Bush was also more culturally repulsive to the urban Northeast than Dole was.

^^^^
This.

Up to that point the GOP had never nominated a candidate for President who was much into the marble-mouthed weasel toothed culture of the Redneck Folk.  OKay, granted Bush was born in Connecticut and was raised with somewhat of a sliver spoon in his mouth.  However, he did really well in completing his transformation to where, by comparison, he would be a good ole country bread boy compared to his old man and other Republican figures (like the aforementioned Bob Dole) who just always came out as sounding too crusty WASP.  Something that really helped the GOP in the South and the Plains states but hurt them considerably up north.

Again, Gun Control was a major issue of the time.  However, I do recall it being talked about as a major campaign issue maybe 10% of the time at most.  All I remember about the election was something about A LOCKBOX and how to spend the so-called "surplus".