Excellent point, but does anybody see McCain as more than a 1-termer? That's part of the reason that Conservatives are so smitten with Palin. They see her selection as putting her at the Head of the Class.
The VP-with-a-Future argument was the lesser of my 2 points. That's why I put it after the "Bush-did-ZERO-partybuilding" observation. Reagan worked dilligently during his term in office visiting various conservative-oriented groups. We're still living off his labors.
Honestly as far back as last summer I was thinking this year’s winner will be a one termer. Just because the candidate list was so bad, there just has to be somebody more electable in 2012.
Really I don’t think anybody sitting as Bush’ VP would even win 1. He’s never been a popular president, definitely not Reagan or Jackson popular (the two guys since the ticket started to have their sitting VP win the presidency).
Of course Reagan was actually popular among conservatives. Bush never really was. And of course by the time this election got rolling he was just plain unpopular. Best thing he could have done for any candidate was announce his undieing hatred for them, that’s probably worth 5 points in the polls.
I don't see whoever wins this Novembner as more than a one-termer. The last time teh country elected three consecutive two-term Presidents, tehir names were Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.