George W. Bush’s victory lap through California in 2000 could have been time better spent in Florida stretching the margin a bit wider than the 500 or so votes he got.
Ah, Florida 2000.
First the October surprise of the undisclosed DUI supresses would be supporters.
Then news outlets declare the state for Gore, when some polls were still open; causing western Florida conservative voters to say "why bother".
But we had a secret weapon: Pat Buchanan. Some voters were truly confused and meant to vote for Gore.
So a form of Karma stikes, and Bush carries the state and election with it.
Still, it was reckless of Bush not to disclose the DUI months earlier.