Why was 2000 so close?

[MIKESOWELL]

From what I remember from 2000, Gore consistently trailed Bush throughout 1999-2000. After their respective conventions, I remember the polls tightening a bit, with Bush's lead dropping from say, 51-40 to 49-44 or so. It went back up to double digits in late September very early October, and then came the Bush stumbles and the incredible Democratic showing on Election Day that nearly put Gore over the top. Why did Gore lose? There is no one simple answer to that question, but I will say this: Gore came across throughout that campaign year as stiff, formal, and a snob to be honest. He kept distancing himself from Clinton, which was the opposite of what Nixon wanted from Ike (who limited his campaigning until the very end due to health issues). I think that Nader did play spoiler to Gore. Without Nader, Gore would have beaten Bush by two million votes and gotten about 296 electoral votes. At least that's my opinion.