[Hoot Gibson]

Worst presidential campaigns in recent history, Democrats:

1. Kamala Harris (2024)

2. Joe Biden (2020)

3. Hillary Clinton (2016)

Honorable Mention: Michael Dukakis (1988), Jimmy Carter (1980), Walter Modale (1984)

Worst presidential campaigns in recent history, Republicans:

1. Donald Trump (2020)

2. Donald Trump (2016)

3. Mitt Romney (2012, Bob Dole (1996) (tie)

Honorable Mention: John McCain (2008), Gerald R. Ford (1976) 

Note that I did not include Donald Trump's 2024 campaign in my list. I also would not include his current campaign in my "best" list, but IMO, he is running his best campaign by far this year. Unless I am badly mistaken, Trump is going to accomplish exactly what he should in this election - beat a very weak opponent very badly. He has dialed back the name-calling and he has been appealing directly to groups that most past Republican candidates have ignored. Trump has made it socially acceptable for black and Hispanic men to support him in this campaign. He will not win the majority of those voters, but he is going to punish Democrats for taking them for granted until it was too late. Trump is not running a historically great campaign, but he is running a competent campaign.