Gore Lost. Period.
Among other great quotes in this essay by Photodude is this one:
It’s the first thought I have when I hear someone who is still decrying how Bush “stole” Florida to win the election, as the Democrats had the power to make Florida totally irrelevant. Gore lost his home state. Gore lost his boss’ home state. Gore lost every state in the South, when winning just one would have made him the undisputed President.
Gore lost. Period.
It's a really great post. He discusses much of interest in it: the American South as a political landscape, the future of the Democratic Party, primary politics, and Dean's comment about white guys in pickup trucks with Confederate flags. In the comments, Bruce thinks it's 1984 all over again and Tim is worried that Sept. 11 and the "war on terror" will be "focus-grouped" to death by the Democrats.