[sailaway21]

Mitch,
The point being that Clinton never received a majority of the popular vote so it then being difficult to acclaim him either popular, blessed with a mandate, nor a landslide victor. Of course, the electoral college is all that matters for victory, as it should be.

The last president to receive a majority of the popular vote was GHW Bush. He inherited the Reagan mantle and then proceeded to squander the mandate.

The popular vote is important only in what it reveals about the electorate as a whole. The country remains a center-right country as a whole. To his credit, Bill Clinton realized this and, after a few early gaffes, governed accordingly. It's unlikely that Obama will receive a greater than 50% of the popular vote. I'd reference his returns in the Democrat primary as evidence.