The media knew he’d matched Obama’s alleged popularity when he won the 2016 election; it wasn’t just a reflection of Hillary’s unpopularity, but a rejection of Obamunism as well. If he was nearly as popular as we were led to believe, Hillary would have trounced Trump.
I’ve said the same about the 2000 election; if BJ Clinton was nearly as beloved as portrayed by the media, Gore would have been a shoe-in. Never mind Florida - he lost his home state of Tennessee.
He could have moved if elected, but he wasn’t elected. I think he moved to California anyway.