stormin' norman Vs. Bill Clinton in 1996

[The Duke]

I think it goes without saying that Powell would beat Clinton, and I think McCain could have beaten Clinton.  Had Ginrich held his wad and not passed welfare reform for a third time letting Clinton finally sign it and instead used it as a campaign issue, the GOP could have even elected Dole.

Norman?  No idea, since he was politically untested.  I'd imagine not.

[The Duke]

There was no reason for the voters to replace Clinton in 1996.  Powell and McCain would have been forced to run a campaign identical to Dole's.  Simply attacking Clintons character and not his record.  Both would have ended in the same result, IMO.

I don't agree that there was no reason to replace Clinton.  I think anyone who thinks Colin Powell wouldn't have walked into the Oval office if he'd wanted is deluding themselves.  He was Eisenhower all over again, only more so because he'd take many black voters from the Democrats.

[The Duke]

I don't agree that there was no reason to replace Clinton.  I think anyone who thinks Colin Powell wouldn't have walked into the Oval office if he'd wanted is deluding themselves.  He was Eisenhower all over again, only more so because he'd take many black voters from the Democrats.

I don't agree that Powell and Eisenhower are even comparable. Except for the fact that they were both generals.

Why exactly aren't they comparable?  They were national heroes, and neither could have been stopped in a national election.