Some Recent Defining Presidential Campaign Moments, In Order

by Matt Langer

16. George H.W. Bush’s gallon of milk

15. Michael Dukakis’ ride in an M1 Abrams tank

14. Ross Perot’s claim that Republicans were going to ruin his daughter’s wedding

13. George W. Bush’s name-that-Pakistani-prime-minister

12. Joe Biden’s plagiarism

11. Mondale’s promise to raise taxes

10. Bill Clinton’s non-inhalation of marijuana

9. Sarah Palin’s reading of all the newspapers

8. Al Gore’s invention of the internet

7. Bob Dole’s falling off a stage

6. Ted Kennedy’s inability to tell Roger Mudd why he wanted to be president

5. John Kerry’s for-it-before-he-was-against-it

4. John McCain’s fundamentally sound economy

3. Rick Perry’s “oops”

2. Howard Dean’s scream

1. Gary Hart’s “Monkey Business”

Matt Langer quit his job in 2002 to run web operations for Gary Hart’s aborted third presidential run.