Who was the most "electable" candidate for both parties, by year?

[Dereich]

I think Romney was certainly the most electable in 2008. Not only did he have an economic background in a very economic election, it would have also been harder to call him Bush's third term. He never voted for Iraq and its not like he had a history of having to support Bush initiatives like McCain did. I think Romneycare could have been a big political ace for him too. Romney's plan was always pretty similar to Hillary's proposed plan and I'd think he could draw in a few more of the disaffected Hillary voters than McCain did, probably enough to prevent a desperate move like the Palin selection. I'm sure his financial background would have hurt him a bit, but at least he could actually propose a credible plan; remember how McCain's best idea was to suspend his campaign? And it would have been MUCH harder to attack him on his background; when financial industries are close to toppling right and left threatening world depression anyone with a brain would think twice before beginning the "greedy financial profiteers" nonsense on a public platform.