John Kerry

This is what we have said for years. It is hard to convey how unlikely a win for any Democrat in 2004 would have been - just given the approval rating, the economy, and the bonding over 911. To add to that a media that really was biased and hurt him the most by filtering everything he did so severely that many never heard things he spoke of multiple times a day. Add in the Catholic church in some areas - obsessed about the 2+ likely SCJ and abortion. Then add in that he picked the lame narcissistic party favorite for VP, who was completely unhelpful. (The latter being the only liability that was partly his fault.)

I also wonder if he would not have had cancer in 2003 if that could have made a difference. He looks younger and more energetic now - 8 years later! Not to mention, if he were at the DNC in February 2003, it would have been much harder for Dean to be seen as the only anti-war candidate - which might have helped.

As it was, more people now seem to accept that the voting machine shortage in Democratic areas likely caused his loss of Ohio. This would have been the most incredible upset in American history reflecting just how good he is/was.