Least interesting U.S. Presidential elections

[Mechaman]

My two cents
Unlike some people I have a pretty strict definition of an "uninteresting election".  For me an election has to:

a) have low turnout
b) be considered a foregone conclusion
c) nobody cared
d) nobody still cares
e) lack of precedent (besides low turnout or vote totals)
f) the extreme lack of hype (emphasis on extreme)

1820: The Era of "Good Feelings" election.  I really don't need to go any further.
1852: From what I've read of the election voter turnout was at a historic low (at the time) due to perception that the platform of the Whig Party was indistinguishable from the Democratic Party and millions of Americans were disillusioned with the two party system that would lead to the destruction of the Whig Party later in the 1850's.
1908: William J. Bryan runs for the 3rd time and William "the Chosen Successor" Taft is nominated for the Republican nomination.  Nothing to see here folks.
1956: I mean really what the hell can you say about this election?  Sore loser from 1952 challenges universally popular former war hero turned president for re-election?  Did Stevenson's own mother even watch the election returns?
1988: Another election noted for really low turnout (hell even Dan Rather noted this while reporting the results) you had another case of "the Chosen Successor" versus the demotivating opponent.  This election was so boring that most people only remember two things from it: a tank and some black guy in Maryland.  Sounds pretty g**damnf***ing boring to me man.
1996: Bill Sexy Abs Clinton versus Robert DULLLLLLLLLLL.  Does the average American even remember the Republican ticket in this election?  Really guys?  How many of you remember watching this election? (cricket chirps)  Okay how many of you remember playing Wave Race 64 and getting your ass handed to you by a dolphin instead? (collective "yes")  My point exactly.

These are the elections that I consider profoundly uninteresting to the point of physical anguish.

[Mechaman]

1996
1988
1972
1956
1944
1940
1936
1920

All of these seem dull.

I wouldn't really call 1920 or 1972 dull.  I mean 1920 was the first election that women had the right to vote (a precedent) and the low voter turnout amongst urban Democrats is a great example of the power of machine politics back in the day.  And 1972 was the first election that 18 year olds had the right to vote, also another precedent.  Not to mention the whole perceived pragmatic incumbent vs. radical challenger view of the election (much like 1964).

[Mechaman]

1996 takes the cake.

I'm not even sure Bill Clinton or Robert Dole found 1996 to be an interesting election.  Hell Robert Dole probably doesn't even remember the 1996 Presidential Election (to be fair I don't either).  My house didn't even watch the election we ordered Hideaway Pizza and watched Terminator 2: Judgement Day (hey I was raised in a pretty liberal household).

[Mechaman]

in fact of the 900 counties Adlai Stevenson won in 1956... only 209 of those counties voted for Obama! Its surprising that a county that would vote for a democrat who lost that badly, would then vote for a republican who lost by 7 points. Its almost like the Stevenson McCain counties are Anti-Bellwether.

Speaking of realignment, go back a bit further: of the 18 states that Lincoln won in 1860, exactly zero voted for McCain 148 years later - the first time this has ever happened for a Republican nominee (even those who lost in landslides).

Goldwater 1964?

[Mechaman]

1944, 1956, 1968, 1988, 2004.

1968? Johnson dropping out, Kennedy entering and then getting assassinated, turmoil at the Democratic National Convention, George Wallace, return of Nixon?

Yeah I don't get how that would be uninteresting.  Hell I think it's almost as interesting as 1960.
I don't get 2004 either.  I mean that was during the middle of post 9/11 hysteria and Kerry actually did (in my opinion) extremely good considering that Bush had the tools of fear at his disposal.