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Almost President: What it's like to lose
CNN:When America elects a new president, the focus of the nation turns to where it should be -- on the winner.
And in that same instant, the defeated challengers fade from the center of the national universe back to a life without Secret Service, adoring crowds, and the daily high-wire of a presidential campaign.
...snip...
In a series of interviews that took place over the last three years for the CNN Special Report "Almost President: The Agony of Defeat," finally, some tell their stories -- accounts of heartbreak, mistakes, missed opportunities -- but also of thrilling moments of pride and patriotism.
Among the almost presidents featured: Mitt Romney, who truly believed he would win, only to lose a race that was a dead heat up until the last moment. John McCain was running against history, opposing Barack Obama, who had a clear shot at becoming America's first black president; so he threw the Hail Mary, choosing virtual unknown Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Walter Mondale lost to a man whom he believed could have been losing his memory, but he would not say it. He lost to Ronald Reagan in the biggest landslide in American history. And Michael Dukakis refused to fight back in one of the dirtiest campaigns ever.
Losing the presidency leads to years of self-analysis and second-guessing: Why did I do that? Why did I say that? John McCain confesses that he still beats himself up over mistakes he made in debates. Mitt Romney talks about what his most difficult challenges. Walter Mondale, at age 88, says, "You never get over it."
And in that same instant, the defeated challengers fade from the center of the national universe back to a life without Secret Service, adoring crowds, and the daily high-wire of a presidential campaign.
...snip...
In a series of interviews that took place over the last three years for the CNN Special Report "Almost President: The Agony of Defeat," finally, some tell their stories -- accounts of heartbreak, mistakes, missed opportunities -- but also of thrilling moments of pride and patriotism.
Among the almost presidents featured: Mitt Romney, who truly believed he would win, only to lose a race that was a dead heat up until the last moment. John McCain was running against history, opposing Barack Obama, who had a clear shot at becoming America's first black president; so he threw the Hail Mary, choosing virtual unknown Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Walter Mondale lost to a man whom he believed could have been losing his memory, but he would not say it. He lost to Ronald Reagan in the biggest landslide in American history. And Michael Dukakis refused to fight back in one of the dirtiest campaigns ever.
Losing the presidency leads to years of self-analysis and second-guessing: Why did I do that? Why did I say that? John McCain confesses that he still beats himself up over mistakes he made in debates. Mitt Romney talks about what his most difficult challenges. Walter Mondale, at age 88, says, "You never get over it."
"Almost President: The Agony of Defeat" is the story of what happens when you lose the presidency. Watch Gloria Borger's special report Wednesday, September 14, at 9 p.m. ET.
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