James Campbell in "Why Bush Won" emphasizes the need to look at the context in which the election took place and the need to look at campaign developments. The writer also lays out three campaign fundamentals that can help explain why President Bush narrowly won the 2004 election: public opinion of the candidate, election-year economy growth (or lack thereof), and the advantage of party and personal incumbency. According to Campbell, all three of these fundamentals gave Bush an advantage. Public opinion of the president was slightly in favor of him at the beginning of the campaign cycle and an additional boost was provided by the natural post-convention bump. The economy was also an asset for 43 during the election. The economy provides voter
