And who would ever believe that George W. Bush might win the Electoral College, even though Al Gore won the popular vote?

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There wasn't a serious threat to Markey's House seat, but he wanted to raise his profile in the event of a Senate vacancy created by a Kerry presidential win over George W. Bush, Mayer said.

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There was also a concern about Governor Rick Perry winning the Republican nomination, and some said that should Perry win the nomination, that it was too much like George W. Bush too soon, and Obama would win.

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That could benefit Gore's rival, GOP presidential hopeful George W. Bush, in a state considered a must-win for the vice president.

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W. Bush waiting for an economic recovery to materialize in time to win the 1992 election.

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President GEORGE W. BUSH: It is important for Americans to know that we have enough guard forces to win the war on terror, to respond to natural disasters, and to help secure our border.

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Mr Gore's failure to win his home state of Tennessee in the tightly fought battle for the US presidency in 2000 against George W Bush reflected a reluctance to spend time courting his own people.

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