Neither Bush or Gore "Wins" By Losing

by Steve Chapman

The theory is that the loser will look good, if only because the winner will look so bad. By graciously accepting defeat, it's said, either Gore or Bush would spare himself being known for all time as a fraud who stole the election. Not only that, but he would raise himself above the ordinary run of politicians, win the admiration of the American people, and assure himself a rematch in the 2004 presidential race.

Neither candidate, however, is persuaded, preferring even the most Pyrrhic victory to an outright defeat. No wonder. Bush and Gore haven't spent the last year making fund-raising calls, eating bad meals, and travelling nonstop from one end of the country to the other for the pleasure of being complimented on their good sportsmanship.

No, they want desperately to win. How do we know that? Because only someone who desperately wants to win would endure a presidential campaign. That desire, and not a selfless concern for the public good, is what keeps candidates going when sane people would quit.

Having given up a year of their lives in the pursuit of the presidency, neither is about to settle willingly for anything less than being regularly serenaded with "Hail to the Chief." So Bush and Gore have each chosen to do whatever it takes to win rather than give way to that other bozo.

They know that the one sure thing about this contest is that whoever eventually is declared the winner will be inaugurated Jan. 20 to serve a four-year term as president of the United States, with all the trappings of power and glory that go with it. Whoever is declared the loser -- even if it's because he heroically surrendered rather than put the public through a long legal fight -- won't get the presidency this time or, probably, ever.

True, the next occupant of the Oval Office will have his share of woes, including a closely divided Congress, the bare minimum of popular support, and constant comparisons to President Rutherford B. Hayes ("His Fraudulency"). It sounds like an acutely unenviable position.

But Bill Clinton was similarly besieged after Republicans took control of Congress in 1994 -- and that didn't stop him from regaining public confidence, winning re-election, surviving impeachment, and accomplishing much of what he wanted do to, often to the exasperation of his enemies. George Bush the elder, on the other hand, went from a 91 percent approval rating after the Gulf War to repudiation at the polls the following year.

Chance and unforeseeable developments play a big part in deciding the fate of presidents. Neither Bush nor Gore has any guarantee of good fortune in the White House, but they know that to be a lucky president, you first have to be president.

As for surrendering the tainted prize this time in the hope of winning an undisputed victory four years down the road -- well, they might as well plan on becoming Miss America. No losing presidential candidate has been renominated the next time since 1956, when Adlai Stevenson was chosen by the Democrats. As Democrats remember, he didn't win the second time, either.

Neither of these guys is likely to be embraced by the party faithful for a valiant losing effort. If Bush wins, Democrats won't say: "Good job, Al!" They'll say: "All you had going for you was peace, prosperity and a popular president -- and you got beat by a dimwit whose only qualification for the office was his name!" If Gore wins, Republicans will blame Bush: "You spent more money than any candidate in history and got fewer votes than the most annoying person on the planet!"

Even if one of them were to win praise for a dignified act of self-sacrifice, voters' memories are short. In the next four years, other potential candidates will emerge, with fresh faces and fresh lines. Presented with new options, the American people probably won't conclude that the best possible person for the job is the guy they rejected the last time.

Whenever this election is resolved, the winner will probably find the outcome distinctly bittersweet. Not the loser. For him, it will be just plain bitter.