Rank losing campaigns from Best to Worse Since 1972

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Ran good campaigns:
Mitt Romney (2012)
John Kerry (2004)

Ran average campaigns:
John McCain (2008)
George H.W. Bush (1992)
Bob Dole (1996)
George McGovern (1972)
Gerald Ford (1976)

Ran bad campaigns:
Al Gore (2000)
Walter Mondale (1984)
Hillary Clinton (2016)

Living disasters:
Jimmy Carter (1984)
Ross Perot (1996)
John Anderson (1980)
Mike Dukakis (1988)

Literally dropped out while leading in the polls:
Ross Perot (1992)

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Ran good campaigns:
Mitt Romney (2012)
John Kerry (2004)

Ran average campaigns:
John McCain (2008)
George H.W. Bush (1992)
Bob Dole (1996)
George McGovern (1972)
Gerald Ford (1976)

Ran bad campaigns:
Al Gore (2000)
Walter Mondale (1984)
Hillary Clinton (2016)

Living disasters:
Jimmy Carter (1984)
Ross Perot (1996)
John Anderson (1980)
Mike Dukakis (1988)

Literally dropped out while leading in the polls:
Ross Perot (1992)

Interesting and unique list. I have to ask, why is McGovern's campaign rated above Gore's?

McGovern lost because of policy and not really because of some huge campaign misstep. Gore overestimated the public's negative reaction to Lewinsky and chose not to campaign with a popular President by his side, which lost him a lot of moderate voters. In addition, his VP pick, Joe Lieberman, reinforced left-liberal dislike of Gore, hence adding fire to the flames of the Nader campaign.

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2.) HILLARY CLINTON, had it not been for the Comey memo that sealed the deal for Donald Trump, she would have won PA,WI, and MI. Hillary was still in the game, until Pat Toomey was declared the winner

Book recommendation: "Shattered: Inside Hillary's Doomed Campaign". A quick read of that will drop this like a rock on your list, the election never should've been close.