In my opinion it was Iraq that made winning this election tough for the president. Add to that George Soros money, the high price of gas, the job losses albeit, not the president's fault, the mainstream media, so many things the president had working against him, but in the end, I am thankful he prevailed.
Also, I believe that if Bush had given the type of proformance I know he can in the first debate he would have won this election by 7-8%. The first debate hurt him alot.