I was just saying to someone last evening that Forbes was the smartest one running in 2000; but Bush had the name recognition.
That was the year the media decided to push for the Bush as republican nominee, the story of a son of a President trying to become President himself, and we fell for it. They sold the narrative to Republicans, even though he wasn't the best candidate at the time. Al Gore should have beaten him soundly. But, we actually elected the guy, much to their surprise, and they spent 8 years making him seem like a hapless idiot.