Not to quibble, but that Dole '96 campaign was no great shakes either. We conservatives got stuck with "Hey, It's My Turn" when there actually was a shot at getting rid of Clinton for a second term. A different man running might have stood a better chance at defeating the crook.
I went to a Dole/Kemp rally. After parking a mile away, standing in line, enduring security, waiting and waiting at the rally, Kemp came out and tuly dissappointed me. He pretty much apologized for the Conservatives and sucked up to the Democrats.
But, like a good, mind-numbed robot, I held my nose and voted for Dole.
Somewhere over the next few years I realized that I would never simply hold my nose and vote for either a party or an individual out of expected loyalty, and I'd not cast a vote for any Republican as a vote against a Democrat. If I can't vote FOR the person or party, I'll vote for someone else or not at all.