[okiesap]

If you really believe my statements about candidates movng center is liberal crap you are suffering denial. Clinton won by surfing the middle. Perhaps you helped his cause by voting for Perot. Clinton won again despite his tax increases and support of gun control.

When either party shifts too far to the right or left, they lose.....the swing voters don't like THE PERCEPTION of extremism, even though the protection of the 2nd amendment is anything but. Plus the "soccer moms" become frightened

Going back...Nixon won because McGovern was the counter culture candidate. Reagan won in 1980 because even those on the left couldn't stomach four more years of Carter's EXTREME inability to lead as epitomized by the Iran hostage crisis and runaway inflation.

Reagan won again due to Mondale's EXTREME promise to raise taxes.

Dukakis had no charisma, Bush 41 had a little. Charisma combined with centrist campaigning wins elections.

[Dan from Michigan]

True to some extent, but the 'mushy middle' isn't so cut and dry. In a lot of states, the middle is socially conservative and economically liberal.

Macomb and Monroe County Michigan are centrist counties. Don't run anti-gun there though. On the same note, don't bash the unions there either or appear too 'pro-business'.

[Mulder]

Clinton won by surfing the middle

Klinton won by moving to the right and because poppy sold out EVERY single constituency group in the Republican Party.

Both candidates moved to the middle, but one was moving right and the other left. Guess which one got an anemic 37% of the vote?

Clinton won again despite his tax increases and support of gun control.

Klinton won again because the GOP ran a washed up candidate because it "was his turn". Klinton had an approval rating of under 40% in 1995, but the RINOs stabbed Newt and the boys in the back, causing Klinton to be re-elected.

swing voters don't like THE PERCEPTION of extremism

So is that why the extremist Reagan won 49 states in 1980? Or why the extremist GOP candidates won 50+ seats in 1994?

Charisma combined with centrist campaigning wins elections.

Reagan had only one and won 2 landslides (3 if you count poppy riding his coattails in 1988). Gingrich had neither and led the most decisive mid term victory in 50 years.

[PuNcH]

Clinton won by surfing the middle. Perhaps you helped his cause by voting for Perot. Clinton won again despite his tax increases and support of gun control.

Clinton won because of "read my lips" and a 1989 gun ban by Bush from out of the blue. I'll leave those as the strongest reasons why Bush lost support from conservatives.

Clinton downplayed his liberal side including gun control and ran as a moderate.