You’re forgetting that had Gore stolen Florida and become president, Republicans nationwide would have made their biggest threshold question “can our nominee win Florida”? I think that the 2004 nomination would have been Jeb Bush’s for the taking (particularly after his massive 2002 reelection).
How could I forget Jeb?
Yes, if it would have been a Bush, it would have been him.
Good point, but I think there would’ve been a problem with the grassroots arguing nominating another Bush after 2 losses (1992/2000) would’ve been committing political suicide.