What was the last election where both candidates were significantly different?

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Obama and McCain, Kerry/Gore and Bush, Dole and Clinton. There was little to now difference between the candidates. What was the last election with significantly different candidates?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

In terms of positions, personality, or background?

[Insula Dei]

1972, maaaaaaaybe 1984.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

In terms of positions, personality, or background?

I'm thinking positions, but the other two can factor in as well.

[Dr. Cynic]

In terms of positions, personality, or background?

I'm thinking positions, but the other two can factor in as well.

Well, McCain and Obama could not have been any more different from each other in appearance, temperament, upbringing or personal history.

In terms of positions... Reagan and Mondale were clear contrasts.

[ag]

I would say, it was 2008. And before that it was 2004. And before that it was 2000. And the next one, quite obviously, will be 2012. And I mean positions.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I would say, it was 2008. And before that it was 2004. And before that it was 2000. And the next one, quite obviously, will be 2012. And I mean positions.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

In terms of background, it's harder. Both Dole and Clinton came from poor, humble beginnings. Both Bush and Kerry came from rich East Coast families. A classic example of opposites would be Nixon vs. Kennedy. Different places geographically, different backgrounds. Heck, the only thing really similar between them was their political positions.

[© tweed]

this of course has more to do with our definition of "significant" than anything else.  I myself like BS' answer.

[Is Totally Not Feeblepizza.]

In terms of style, candidates have varied greatly:

2008: McCain boring; Obama suave
2004: Kerry boring; Bush not really suave, but very likable
2000: Gore boring; Bush still not exactly suave but likable
1996: Dole boring; Clinton suave
1992: Bush Sr. boring; Clinton suave; Perot more of an attention magnet than "suave"
1988: Not really much different...Bush and Duke were both pretty boring
1984: Mondale boring; Reagan suave
1980: Carter boring; Reagan suave

And on down the line.

[Indy Prez]

1896 McKinley v Brian

On the issues

[Jerseyrules]

I would say 1892, IMHO.  Or maybe 1960, because Nixon and Kennedy weren't moderates; JFK was a (fiscal and military) hawk and tax-slasher with a monetarist streak, Nixon a tax-and-spend progressive, the last progressive Republican and first since Hoover, IMHO.

[tpfkaw]

Define "significantly."

[courts]

Ideologically/position wise? Probably 1972.

[tpfkaw]

Ideologically/position wise? Probably 1972.

Eh, considering Nixon wrapped up Vietnam fairly quick, his administration probably wasn't too different from the hypothetical McGovern one.

[© tweed]

Ideologically/position wise? Probably 1972.

Eh, considering Nixon wrapped up Vietnam fairly quick, his administration probably wasn't too different from the hypothetical McGovern one.

have a look at the rest of the McGovern platform sometime.

[Jerseyrules]

Ideologically/position wise? Probably 1972.

Eh, considering Nixon wrapped up Vietnam fairly quick, his administration probably wasn't too different from the hypothetical McGovern one.

have a look at the rest of the McGovern platform sometime.

I do believe that Nixon was one of the most progressive presidents ever, establishing the EPA, campaigning for national health insurance with a PUBLIC OPTION (which was turned down by the democratic congress thanks to Teddy Kennedy), and restricting oil drilling in Alaska, as well as hiking the minimum wage and enforcing wage and price controls.  McGovern would've done the same thing if he could, but wouldn't have had the political capital to because of his unpopularity within his own party.