Divided or Mandate?

[ATFFL]

Bush got more votes than any other presidential candidate in history.

Mandate.

and Gore got the 3rd most... proves nothing.

Actually, Gore is 4th.  Kerry is 2nd and Reagan is 3rd now.

[ATFFL]

The Atlas only has Kerry at 53.5 million. Reagan got 54.5.

Looking at the current CNN total, and from other newssites, Kerry is up to 55,435,808.

Elcorazon, I agree that thinking the most votes ever is a mandate is foolish. 

Sure sounds good though, if people do not stop to think about it.  No one ever went broke betting that people would not think.

[ATFFL]

The mandate is less for Bush specifically and more for the Republicans.  Solid gains in both houses of Congress along with a PV win over 50% does give the party a madate.

[ATFFL]

No, Philip, but their not voting for Bush or Clinton shows that they did not like them enough to vote for a candidate to contribute to him winning. Perot was not a viable candidate.

Please remember this when someone tries to add Nader votes to Gore/Kerry.

I seem to remember you trying to do that at times too.  Am I misremembering or are you converted?