To those who have experienced definitive "landslide" victories...

[StrongBad]

Could you feel it coming up to election day or in some sense was it a complete surprise?

I would like to know what the environment and attitudes were in campaigns prior to election day. Obviously I'm talking about losses by Mondale/McGovern/Dukakis in modern history. Thanks!

[rucky]

1. I think we were all pretty sure about Dukakis

and suspected Mondale would lose, but not by that much.

[regnaD kciN]

9. Dukakis wasn't a "landslide" election...

He only lost by 6-8 points.

Mondale was pretty clearly shaping up to be a train wreck, but some people were hoping for a surprise in that one poll had him down 20 points the Sunday before the election, and another had him down only 10 points the next day, so there was hope that the electorate was swinging quickly in the Dem direction in the last days. Obviously, it didn't happen.

McGovern was back when I was an idealistic teen so, even though I knew all the signs were bad, I still had hope that the American public would "do the right thing" in the end. Needless to say, that's the last time I thought that.

I guess the biggest surprise was Reagan in 1980. That wasn't a "landslide" in terms of popular vote (although everyone was expecting it to be neck-and-neck, so even a small but decisive lead for Reagan was unexpected), but we did lose the Senate and enough House seats to give control to a coalition of Republicans and "blue dogs," which nobody had predicted. That night was truly shocking for me, especially the fact that the calling of the race took place several hours before polls closed here on the west coast, and the number of major Democrats (McGovern, Birch Bayh, Frank Church, Warren Magnuson, etc.) who got swept out along with Carter.

[Drunken Irishman]

10. Dukakis lost the electoral college by 315. No candidate has come close to Bush's 426 EV votes since.

It was a blowout.

[kennetha]

11. Didn't Mondale briefly lead?

After the first debate, when Reagan got lost on that darned highway? I seem to remember him being up 4pts in the polls after that. The repugnants were all in a tither over poor Ronnie's performance. But they prepared him with a very clever one liner, and Reagan was back on top to stay. But memory fades.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Yeah, I'd like to know this too.

I'm young, so the only elections I remember were 2004, 2000 and 1996. In 1996, everyone knew Clinton would win, so it was mostly a question of how much.

From my readings, which aren't perfect, it was pretty much known heading into the final month Clinton would win in 1992. The biggest story was how much Perot would get once he reentered the campaign. In 1988, I think most conceded Dukakis would lose by the first of October. I can't comment on '84, but the only time that race was close was in the summer and when Mondale chose Feraro, giving him a Palin-like boost in the polls (which vanished just like the Palin-bounce). In 1980, the election was TIGHT for most of September and October, but then at the very end it broke hard toward Reagan and he won by a landslide.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, 2008 is going to be exactly like 1980 and we're already seeing it break hard for Obama like it did Reagan.

[RoyGBiv]

3. No surprise ...

Dukakis was only a surprise in the sense that he fell apart so rapidly, but in the month or so leading up to the election, it was clear he was toast.

Most of his supporters where I was were wishing the ticket had been reversed. Granted, this was a very conservative area.

Mondale -- never a question.

I wasn't alive during McGovern's meltdown, but from what I get from people who were, that race felt lost after Kennedy was killed. Not even a lot of Dems wanted Humphrey.

[Stop Cornyn]

4. All of the elections from 1980 to 1996 were more-or-less landslides and none were a surprise

[Greyskye]

5. No answer for your question. But here's a pretty map!

[vanderBeth]

12. That is a pretty pic :)

It would be even prettier with a blue Ohio

[Greyskye]

13. You know what? You're right.

And by the metrics that I used when I made my choices, Ohio should be Blue.

So thanks, and here you go:

[rufus dog]

6. The current numbers are a landslide

If Obama picks off MO and IN, which as of today is likely, then you only have two or three states with double digit EVs for McLame. What could happen is the wave gets so big that states were thought to be safe McCain get overwhelmed by large Obama turnout along with depressed McCain turnout. I believe this is harder for a Dem to accomplish, the media would need to be reporting that the thing is a blowout for McCain vote to be depressed. For example, have you ever seen a report on AZ being closer that expected? When you see those then you have the possibility of a plus 400 EV victory.

[KamaAina]

7. I knew Clinton was in

when I showed up at the polling place in oh-so-Dem New Haven -- and the line was out the door!

[MarianJack]

8. McGovern & Mondale NEVER had a chance...

...but Dukakis blew a very winnable election.

To answer your question, yes, there is a spirit in the air a few weeks before the election.

This year is starting to feel that way, but I'm not selling the tiger's skin while the tiger is still in it.

BTW, I consider a landslide to be at least a 10% popular vote margin. This sense in the air was there in non-landslide years also, like 1988, 1992 & 1996.

PEACE!

[msallied]

14. Although I viewed Clinton's wins as EV landslides...

I think the feeling was a little different for me just because elections during the 90s seemed so much more, I dunno, predictable. It's hard to extrapolate previous elections to current ones because the element of uncertainty has been thrown in there via the controversies surrounding the legitimacy of the last two elections. That has sucked away a LOT of Democrats' confidence. So even though we like to say we feel "landslide" in the air, almost all of us are afraid to say it out loud.

[asdjrocky]

15. Please stop using that word.

Now go outside, turn around three times, then spit. Thank you.

[merbex]

16. It was a shock when Reagan won in 1980 because just like today

MOST people on issues sided with the Democrats

It was close and I was 20 and remember that the debates seemed to seal Carter's fate because it was as if Reagan was auditioning and he nailed he audition...meaning that even though people disagreed with Reagan they decided they could "trust" him

30 years of bromides leading to disaster

I really didnt think people could be that dumb but they hated the gloomy atmosphere

[Rowdyboy]

17. Election night 1974 (the Watergate election) occurred during my junior year in college....It was the

most exciting night of my life. When the smoke cleared Democrats won four senate seats for a 61-38 majority with one independent and won 49 house seats for a majority of 291-144. We also kicked ass among governors and state legislatures. Democrats were winning and Republicans were losing faster than the anchors could read results on television. I tried but failed to keep a record, giving up about 11:30pm in an alcoholic haze.

It was a great night. This time I can keep tabs on the internet and afford more and better alcohol. Look for good night and try to have the day after off-you'll need it.

on edit: yes we knew we would win big, just no idea how big.

[Erin Elizabeth]

18. The presidential election of 1972 was so disappointing

to my dad that he withdrew from politics and literally never voted again. He canvassed for McGovern with toddler me on his shoulders. He was heartbroken.

Of course he was happy when Nixon resigned in disgrace two years later. But still. I understand it was a blowout in 72.