Why was 2000 so close?

[sg0508]

As others stated, one party had the presidency for eight years in a row.  In addition, the economy had thinned by late 2000 and that made a difference.  Bush was thought to be well-ahead until late Oct when the drunk driving past came up and that nearly did it for Gore.

[sg0508]

Again, a lot of this is the economy.  By the middle of 2000, the economy had started thinning, the stock market was declining and many pocketbooks were "feeling it".  Clinton disappeared the second half of 2000 and many potentially attributed the thinning economy (incorrectly of course) to Gore as Clinton all but let him run things the latter part of the year.

[sg0508]

People still vote their wallets and the economy was thinning starting in Q2'2000.  Nader hurt him, but Gore distancing himself from Clinton and the overall record of the eight years is what lost it.