[buwaya]

"Nice circular logic. But but I thought that in close elections that a Governor's party magically made some difference in the way people vote? If anything, because of America's history in Congress of always voting for the party out of power, it HURTS the candidate."

Its not circular at all - if the polity tends liberal, their true nature would come out in a close election, as neither candidate has managed to overcome their ideological leanings. A strong candidate would be able to shift some proportion of the "natural" opposition to his side, which is necessary for a landslide.

In 2000, the election was close. There is no surprise at all in New York going Democrat. It would have taken a Reagan to shift them. Pataki could not shift them, I would not blame him for that.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

In 2000, the election was close. There is no surprise at all in New York going Democrat. It would have taken a Reagan to shift them. Pataki could not shift them, I would not blame him for that.

I agree about Reagan creating landslides, but you must understand that it is a clear Platform that creates landslides. Not a Triangulation, in fact, I can't think of any Republican that ever ran left that has ever won a landslide. Usually the opposite happens. Its not like people magically change year to year when the candidates are issues-lite. Bush only won barely because it was Bush's fault for not making enough of a distinction from Gore, its just that simple. Thanks to 9/11, the distinction between the parties is CLEAR.

I'm not saying its Pataki's "fault" he lost NY, but I am saying that Pataki's failure as a leader hurt the GOP in that state. That will reflect at the ballot box to be sure. OK, I guess I am saying its Pataki's fault Bush lost NY in 00, but its not like he could have tried harder campaigning. Its fundamentals which he doesn't have and never will. Like (R)nold.

There is a reason California isn't embracing the most famous actor to ever run for political office, and has him at 43% negative in the last Field Poll. Its not that they didn't like his movies...