define good candidate? FDR, TR, Kennedy, Regan, these were all excellent candidates and presidents. FDR was every bit as instrumental in changing the course of US history as Lincoln. Kennedy put us on the moon. Regan ended the cold war. Lincoln was a great president and performed well in his time, the civil war. He also benefitted from one major event, he died just at the right time. If he had continued to be president, even past his two terms for example, people would have a much better picture of him as a president.
A large portion of the country loved W. after 9/11. He had wonderful approval ratings. Had he died then, or gone out of office, that would be his legacy and he would be remembered as a great president.Instead, he had 6 more years where the country went to heck and now, that's his legacy.
