Year with the best group of candidates

[Kaine for Senate '18]

So, in your opinion, what election had the best group of candidates running for President?  You can define that by the primaries, the convention (pre 1972), or by the general election.  I'm inclined to say 1976, based on the great Democratic field.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

     1789

1792 wasn't bad either.

No election until 1836 was

[Kaine for Senate '18]

2008.

I actually think 2008 was a bad year.  None of the candidates were particularly great on either side, in the primaries or in the general.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

2008.

I actually think 2008 was a bad year.  None of the candidates were particularly great on either side, in the primaries or in the general.

Really? that's kind of why I liked it. And if you look at all the major republican candidates, none of them were true conservatives (minus Thompson) so it was kind of funny to watch them pander to the base massivly.

For the Democrats, It was boring and lasted too long. I only enjoyed it in the beginning, and was hoping this struggle would go all the way to the convention.

It was certainly an interesting primary season, but the candidates weren't all that good.  Some years, like 1976, saw a collection of great candidates run for President; that was lacking in 2008, I thought.