Since Dole was the vice presidential nominee in the 1976 election, Dole's 1996 loss made him the only unsuccessful major party nominee for both president and vice president in the history of the United States. Although Clinton's margin of victory in the popular vote was slightly greater than that of George H.W. Bush eight years prior, Dole won more states than Bush in part due to Clinton's relatively poor performance in areas of low population density, a precursor of the trend where future Democratic contenders for the presidency perform very well in populous metropolitan areas but vastly under-perform in rural counties. In the West, Dole managed to narrowly win Colorado and Montana (both had voted for Clinton four years earlier), while Clinton became the first Democrat to win Arizona since Harry Truman in 1948. In the South, Clinton won Florida, a state he had failed to win in 1992, but lost Georgia, a state that he had carried. The election helped to cement Democratic presidential control in California, Vermont, Maine, Illinois, New Jersey and Connecticut; all went on to vote Democratic in every subsequent presidential election after having voted Republican in the five prior to 1992. 1996 marked the first time that Vermont voted for a Democrat in two successive elections. Pennsylvania and Michigan both voted Democratic, and would remain in the Democratic presidential fold until 2016.
Since Dole was the vice presidential nominee in the 1976 election Dole's 1996 loss made him the only unsuccessful major party nominee for both president and vice president in the history of the United States Although Clinton's margin of victory in the popular vote was slightly greater than that of George HW Bush eight years prior Dole won more states than Bush in part due to Clinton's relatively poor performance in areas of low population density a precursor of the trend where future Democratic contenders for the presidency perform very well in populous metropolitan areas but vastly under-perform in rural counties In the West Dole managed to narrowly win Colorado and Montana (both had voted for Clinton four years earlier) while Clinton became the first Democrat to win Arizona since Harry Truman in 1948 In the South Clinton won Florida a state he had failed to win in 1992 but lost Georgia a state that he had carried The election helped to cement Democratic presidential control in California Vermont Maine Illinois New Jersey and Connecticut; all went on to vote Democratic in every subsequent presidential election after having voted Republican in the five prior to 1992 1996 marked the first time that Vermont voted for a Democrat in two successive elections Pennsylvania and Michigan both voted Democratic and would remain in the Democratic presidential fold until 2016