I've through the same thing many times - it's like the nomination was his goal, not the presidency.
re: He ran like he didn’t want to win.
What is there about getting the Republican nomination that makes someone that way. It happened to Bush the Elder, Bob Dole and John McCain. And I think it almost happened to Bush the Current.
I think it’s a matter of age. Someone who is 70 or over simply doesn’t have the drive of a person less than 50. And even if they do have the drive, the don’t have the physical ability to keep up with the pace of campaign for President.
Think about how McCain came from the cellar in the primaries. Everyone was talking Rudy, Thompson, Romney, etc. and then low and behold, aided by ‘open’ primaries, McCain emerges as the nominee. He was suddenly thrust into a position he originally had no realistic expectation of attaining. The dems and the media got exactly the Republican candidate they wanted. This is one reason that the primaries should all occur on the same day.