Yes. Most left leaning political types would like to believe that voters make rational decisions based on informed self interest. Clearly, that is not the case. Politics is entertainment. What do Obama and Trump have in common? They love a crowd, and the crowd loves them.
You make a very good point. Doesn’t explain W so I’m happy to think of him as an aberration.
W never would have beat Bill Clinton or Obama, but he didn't have to. Dems put up Gore and Kerry. Two of the best qualified and least entertaining candidates you could imagine.