No one expected George W. Bush to lose New Hampshire by the margin he lost it, or then to so fiercely regroup. No one expected Bush to so dominate most of the summer, and no one expected Gore to recover. These are two preppy princes, who may tend to coast when things look too easy, but fight back when they face the abyss. And they are fighting not just for themselves but to avenge the defeats dealt their fathers. A loss for each would be doubly appalling.
Legacies seeking to justify privilege, each needs to be seen as a man.
And voters, too, need to see them as manly. The presidency, as we know, is a job like no other. The president is the face, and the right arm, of the nation. He is the commander in chief. He must be able to stare down a rival and impose his will on others.