Was Clinton a better candidate in 2008 than Obama?
Demonstrably not, given that she handed him dozens of Midwestern states virtually uncontested.
But that's just how Obama stole the election. He villainously campaigned in Red States as though their primary voters actually mattered.
My point is: if your only contribution is a single statement like “this is their fault”, just shut up. Trite comments don’t inform.
So much of political analysis seems to boil down to "you can only win if you do exactly what I say and never disagree with me in public".
Hillary learned hard on that pitch in 2008 and again in 2016. Biden and Harris adopted it in 2020 and 2024.
And every time the message alienated people, it's their fault when the Dem loses.