Has any incumbent lost the majority of the debates but won the election?

[Wat_Tyler]

Where would we find such information? Is Bush's woeful debate tally uncharted territory for an incumbent President?

[Minstrel Boy]

1. Reagan / Mondale?

I remember two debates. The first, Reagan was so confused it was disturbing, and it became the story. The second, he recovered enough to joke about his age, which, for some reason, made the issue go away.

[Uben]

2. No

No candidate has ever lost all three debates and won the presidency.

[ET Awful]

3. I don't think any incumbent whose approval rating is under 50%

has ever won reelection either. If they have, it's VERY rare.

[mastein]

4. Kennedy Nixon

Most folks who either heard it on the radio or weren't concerned about looks gave Nixon the wins in the debates (He was in the incumbent party, though a very different type of leader than Ike). Of course, it was the first televised debat and Kennedy with his white teeth and boyish good looks won on style points.