Election Analysis

[SPC]

Think about it like this:
In 1976, Bob Dole lost the vice-presidency to Walter Mondale 297-241.
In 1980, George H.W. Bush defeated Walter Mondale for the vice-presidency, 489-49.
Therefore, I may compare these three figures with a diagram:
Dole<Mondale<Bush
I will simplify this:
Dole<Bush

Clinton defeated Bush in 1992. because of the diagram, Clinton should have defeated Dole in 1996 by a larger margin, which he did. Therefore, it would be impossible for Dole to have defeated Clinton in 1996 unless Bush had prevailed in 1992. But, had Bush prevailed in 1992, Vice-president Dan Quayle would be the likely nominee, and Clinton probably wouldn't have run again.

Similarly,
Gore beat Quayle for VP in 1992 370-168
Gore beat Kemp for VP in 1996 379-159
Gore lost the presidency to George W. Bush in 2000 271-267
Bush II defeated John Kerry for the presidency in 2004 286-252

I will again draw a diagram of this:
Kemp<Quayle<Kerry<Gore<Bush II

To simplify this:
Quayle<Bush II

This shows that the president's son was more electable than the vice-president in 2000

The following diagram shows that Joe Lieberman has no chance of becoming president:
Lieberman<Cheney

And I am a little skeptical of this diagram:
Edwards<Lieberman<Cheney

Comments?

 

[Bacon King]

Two main flaws:

1- candidates in different years can't really be flatly compared as better or worse as you do, because in different elections there are a different set of circumstances and issues, possibly giving an advantage to one party over the other.

2- You can't really figure VP's in like that. People vote for the top of the ticket, regardless of second man.

[RBH]

Coolidge > FDR, Coolidge = Hoover, Hoover > FDR

Oh wait..

[Eraserhead]

Coolidge > FDR, Coolidge = Hoover, Hoover > FDR

Oh wait..

You stole my initials.

[Gabu]

No offense, but this analysis is goofy in that it assumes that every year is exactly the same.  In addition to RBH's example, how about this:

In 1960, Lyndon B. Johnson won the vice-presidency 303-219.
In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson won the presidency 486-52.

Therefore, Johnson < Johnson?

[SPC]

No, that means Lodge>Goldwater. They would have to have the same opponent to compare them. A better way to disprove it would be 1888 and 1892.