[Lewite]

I had to hold my nose to vote for Dole. He was the most unqualified and useless candidate I had ever had the misfortune to have to vote for. I was astounded that my party put up such a looser. I hope we learned our lesson from that stupid time. Of course what we got was four more years of a serial rapist and thief.

[jveritas]

I was astounded that my party put up such a looser

The Republican voters voted for Dole in 1996 to be the party nominee, it was not some type of a conspiracy by the Republican leadership to make him the candidate.

[kabar]

The reason Dole got the nomination had more to do with who wanted to take the bullet for the GOP against Clinton. Any GOP candidate would have been a longshot in 1996. Especially since Perot was running again as a third party candidate. Perot received 8.4% of the popular vote in 1996. Clinton beat Dole 49.2% to 40.7% and in electoral votes 379-159. I can't imagine any Rep candidate doing much better against Clinton in 1996.