Obama in the rankings

GE 2008: Obama's place in the national rankings

-over a number of time periods and under specific conditions-

With Obama's winning percent (52.88%) and winning margin (+7.27) now finalized, here is an analysis of how he ranks in electoral history.

Of course, it is a matter of how you want to analyze all of this, so I am providing ten (10) different methods for ranking, and then at the end, 2 tables comparing all 20 ranking values as percentiles of the number of elections in the comparisons.

Table 1: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections where the popular vote was counted (1824-2008). This is the largest and most comprehensive table, but probably not the fairest to GOP candidates.

Table 2: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections since the GOP first competed in presidential elections (1856-2008). This is probably the more fair comparison, when you compare Obama to the performance of both major parties.

Table 3: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections over 100 years (1908-2008).

Table 4: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections over 60 years (1948-2008, the „Nuclear Age“)

Table 5: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections where the democrats won and the popular vote was counted (1824-2008).

Table 6: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections where the democrats won between 1856-2008.

Table 7: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections where the democrats won over 100 years (1908-2008).

Table 8: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections where the democrats won over 60 years (1948-2008).

Table 9: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections that were open or semi-open elections since 1856.

Table 10: a ranking of % and margin, comparing Obama's performance in 2008 to all US elections that were only completely open elections since 1856. This comparison in interesting since Obama has been the first newly elected President in a completely open election (see below) since 1952, 56 years ago.

There is disagreement about what constitutes „open“. Some claim that „open“ means an election where neither the sitting President nor the sitting Vice-President are on the ballot. But how do you classify elections where an incumbent (whose accession to the presidency was through the death or resignment of the duly elected president) is on the ballot, but not running for re-election? In 1964, Johnson was still filling out Kennedy's first term and ran in 1964 for his first term. This means that in 1964, Johnson was not up for re-election, but he did have the power and the influence of the incumbency to help in his election bid.. So, for the sake of fairness, I reclassify this genre into „open“ and „semi-open“.

Open: no incumbent President seeking a second term, no incumbent Vice-President seeking a promotion and a pay raise. This means that both names on the incumbent ballot for president are names of people not currently in the no.1 and no.2 slot in the nation. Examples of open elections: 2008, 1952, 1928, 1920

Semi-Open: No incumbent President seeking a second term, but an incumbent President filling out another incumbent's term now seeking a term in his own right, or an incumbent Vice-President seeking a first term as President. Examples of semi-open elections: 2000, 1988, 1976, 1968, 1960, 1948.

TABLE 1: ALL General Elections since inclusion of the popular vote (1824-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	26.17%	1920	Harding
2	60.80%	1936	Roosevelt, FD	2	25.22%	1924	Coolidge
3	60.67%	1972	Nixon	3	24.25%	1936	Roosevelt, FD
4	60.32%	1920	Harding	4	23.15%	1972	Nixon
5	58.77%	1984	Reagan	5	22.58%	1964	Johnson
6	58.21%	1928	Hoover	6	18.83%	1904	Roosevelt, T
7	57.41%	1932	Roosevelt, FD	7	18.22%	1984	Reagan
8	57.37%	1956	Eisenhower	8	17.81%	1832	Jackson
9	56.42%	1904	Roosevelt, T	9	17.72%	1932	Roosevelt, FD
10	55.93%	1828	Jackson	10	17.42%	1928	Hoover
11	55.58%	1872	Grant	11	15.40%	1956	Eisenhower
12	55.18%	1952	Eisenhower	12	14.44%	1912	Wilson
13	55.03%	1864	Lincoln	13	14.20%	1836	Van Buren
14-a	54.74%	1940	Roosevelt, FD	14	12.26%	1828	Jackson
14-b	54.74%	1832	Jackson	15	12.20%	1856	Buchanan
15	54.02%	1924	Coolidge	16	11.80%	1872	Grant
16	53.39%	1944	Roosevelt, FD	17	10.85%	1952	Eisenhower
17	53.37%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.	18	10.44%	1824	Jackson
18	52.88%	2008	Obama**	19	10.13%	1860	Lincoln
19	52.87%	1840	Harrison**	20	10.08%	1864	Lincoln
20	52.66%	1868	Grant	21	9.95%	1940	Roosevelt, FD
21	51.64%	1900	McKinley	22	9.74%	1980	Reagan
22	51.57%	1908	Taft	23	8.53%	1908	Taft
23	51.02%	1896	McKinley	24	8.52%	1996	Clinton
24	50.92%	1876	Tilden*	25	7.73%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.
25	50.83%	1852	Pierce	26	7.49%	1944	Roosevelt, FD
26	50.79%	1836	Van Buren	27	7.27%	2008	Obama
27	50.75%	1980	Reagan	28	6.95%	1852	Pierce
28	50.73%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.	29	6.13%	1900	McKinley
29	50.08%	1976	Carter	30	6.05%	1840	Harrison
30	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	31	5.56%	1992	Clinton
31	49.55%	1948	Truman	32	5.33%	1868	Grant
32	49.54%	1844	Polk	33	4.79%	1848	Taylor
33	49.24%	1916	Wilson	34	4.48%	1948	Truman
34	49.23%	1996	Clinton	35	4.31%	1896	McKinley
35	48.85%	1884	Cleveland	36	3.12%	1916	Wilson
36	48.63%	1888	Cleveland*	37	3.01%	1892	Cleveland
37	48.38%	2000	Gore*	38	3.00%	1876	Tilden*
38	48.31%	1880	Garfield	39	2.46%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.
39	47.28%	1848	Taylor	40	2.06%	1976	Carter
40	46.02%	1892	Cleveland	41	1.46%	1844	Polk
41	45.29%	1856	Buchanan	42	0.83%	1888	Cleveland*
42	43.42%	1968	Nixon	43	0.70%	1968	Nixon
43	43.01%	1992	Clinton	44	0.57%	1884	Cleveland
44	41.84%	1912	Wilson	45	0.52%	2000	Gore*
45	41.36%	1824	Jackson*	46	0.16%	1960	Kennedy
46	39.65%	1860	Lincoln	47	0.10%	1880	Garfield

*Indicates an electoral backfire: the winner of the PV did not win the GE.

**Since Obama and Harrison are tied for the national popular vote percentage, I have assigned Obama the higher position in the rankings, since his winning margin was higher than Harrison's.

TABLE 2: All General Elections since the inclusion of the GOP (1856-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	26.17%	1920	Harding
2	60.80%	1936	Roosevelt, FD	2	25.22%	1924	Coolidge
3	60.67%	1972	Nixon	3	24.25%	1936	Roosevelt, FD
4	60.32%	1920	Harding	4	23.15%	1972	Nixon
5	58.77%	1984	Reagan	5	22.58%	1964	Johnson
6	58.21%	1928	Hoover	6	18.83%	1904	Roosevelt, T
7	57.41%	1932	Roosevelt, FD	7	18.22%	1984	Reagan
8	57.37%	1956	Eisenhower	8	17.72%	1932	Roosevelt, FD
9	56.42%	1904	Roosevelt, T	9	17.42%	1928	Hoover
10	55.58%	1872	Grant	10	15.40%	1956	Eisenhower
11	55.18%	1952	Eisenhower	11	14.44%	1912	Wilson
12	55.03%	1864	Lincoln	12	12.20%	1856	Buchanan
13	54.74%	1940	Roosevelt, FD	13	11.80%	1872	Grant
14	54.02%	1924	Coolidge	14	10.85%	1952	Eisenhower
15	53.39%	1944	Roosevelt, FD	15	10.13%	1860	Lincoln
16	53.37%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.	16	10.08%	1864	Lincoln
17	52.88%	2008	Obama	17	9.95%	1940	Roosevelt, FD
18	52.66%	1868	Grant	18	9.74%	1980	Reagan
19	51.64%	1900	McKinley	19	8.53%	1908	Taft
20	51.57%	1908	Taft	20	8.52%	1996	Clinton
21	51.02%	1896	McKinley	21	7.73%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.
22	50.92%	1876	Tilden*	22	7.49%	1944	Roosevelt, FD
23	50.75%	1980	Reagan	23	7.27%	2008	Obama
24	50.73%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.	24	6.13%	1900	McKinley
25	50.08%	1976	Carter	25	5.56%	1992	Clinton
26	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	26	5.33%	1868	Grant
27	49.55%	1948	Truman	27	4.48%	1948	Truman
28	49.24%	1916	Wilson	28	4.31%	1896	McKinley
29	49.23%	1996	Clinton	29	3.12%	1916	Wilson
30	48.85%	1884	Cleveland	30	3.01%	1892	Cleveland
31	48.63%	1888	Cleveland*	31	3.00%	1876	Tilden*
32	48.38%	2000	Gore*	32	2.46%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.
33	48.31%	1880	Garfield	33	2.06%	1976	Carter
34	46.02%	1892	Cleveland	34	0.83%	1888	Cleveland*
35	45.29%	1856	Buchanan	35	0.70%	1968	Nixon
36	43.42%	1968	Nixon	36	0.57%	1884	Cleveland
37	43.01%	1992	Clinton	37	0.52%	2000	Gore*
38	41.84%	1912	Wilson	38	0.16%	1960	Kennedy
39	39.65%	1860	Lincoln	39	0.10%	1880	Garfield

Table 3: all General Elections over 100 years (1908-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	26.17%	1920	Harding
2	60.80%	1936	Roosevelt, FD	2	25.22%	1924	Coolidge
3	60.67%	1972	Nixon	3	24.25%	1936	Roosevelt, FD
4	60.32%	1920	Harding	4	23.15%	1972	Nixon
5	58.77%	1984	Reagan	5	22.58%	1964	Johnson
6	58.21%	1928	Hoover	6	18.22%	1984	Reagan
7	57.41%	1932	Roosevelt, FD	7	17.72%	1932	Roosevelt, FD
8	57.37%	1956	Eisenhower	8	17.42%	1928	Hoover
9	55.18%	1952	Eisenhower	9	15.40%	1956	Eisenhower
10	54.74%	1940	Roosevelt, FD	10	14.44%	1912	Wilson
11	54.02%	1924	Coolidge	11	10.85%	1952	Eisenhower
12	53.39%	1944	Roosevelt, FD	12	9.95%	1940	Roosevelt, FD
13	53.37%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.	13	9.74%	1980	Reagan
14	52.88%	2008	Obama	14	8.53%	1908	Taft
15	51.57%	1908	Taft	15	8.52%	1996	Clinton
16	50.75%	1980	Reagan	16	7.73%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.
17	50.73%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.	17	7.49%	1944	Roosevelt, FD
18	50.08%	1976	Carter	18	7.27%	2008	Obama
19	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	19	5.56%	1992	Clinton
20	49.55%	1948	Truman	20	4.48%	1948	Truman
21	49.24%	1916	Wilson	21	3.12%	1916	Wilson
22	49.23%	1996	Clinton	22	2.46%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.
23	48.38%	2000	Gore*	23	2.06%	1976	Carter
24	43.42%	1968	Nixon	24	0.70%	1968	Nixon
25	43.01%	1992	Clinton	25	0.52%	2000	Gore*
26	41.84%	1912	Wilson	26	0.16%	1960	Kennedy

Table 4: all General Elections over 60 years (1948-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	23.15%	1972	Nixon
2	60.67%	1972	Nixon	2	22.58%	1964	Johnson
3	58.77%	1984	Reagan	3	18.22%	1984	Reagan
4	57.37%	1956	Eisenhower	4	15.40%	1956	Eisenhower
5	55.18%	1952	Eisenhower	5	10.85%	1952	Eisenhower
6	53.37%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.	6	9.74%	1980	Reagan
7	52.88%	2008	Obama	7	8.52%	1996	Clinton
8	50.75%	1980	Reagan	8	7.73%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.
9	50.73%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.	9	7.27%	2008	Obama
10	50.08%	1976	Carter	10	5.56%	1992	Clinton
11	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	11	4.48%	1948	Truman
12	49.55%	1948	Truman	12	2.46%	2004	Bush, G. Jr.
13	49.23%	1996	Clinton	13	2.06%	1976	Carter
14	48.38%	2000	Gore*	14	0.70%	1968	Nixon
15	43.42%	1968	Nixon	15	0.52%	2000	Gore*
16	43.01%	1992	Clinton	16	0.16%	1960	Kennedy

Table 5: All General Elections where the DEMOCRAT won in the popular vote since the inclusion of the popular vote in statistics (1824-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	24.25%	1936	Roosevelt, FD
2	60.80%	1936	Roosevelt, FD	2	22.58%	1964	Johnson
3	57.41%	1932	Roosevelt, FD	3	17.81%	1832	Jackson
4	55.93%	1828	Jackson	4	17.72%	1932	Roosevelt, FD
5	54.74%	1940	Roosevelt, FD	5	14.44%	1912	Wilson
6	54.74%	1832	Jackson	6	14.20%	1836	Van Buren
7	53.39%	1944	Roosevelt, FD	7	12.26%	1828	Jackson
8	52.88%	2008	Obama	8	12.20%	1856	Buchanan
9	50.92%	1876	Tilden*	9	10.44%	1824	Jackson
10	50.83%	1852	Pierce	10	9.95%	1940	Roosevelt, FD
11	50.79%	1836	Van Buren	11	8.52%	1996	Clinton
12	50.08%	1976	Carter	12	7.49%	1944	Roosevelt, FD
13	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	13	7.27%	2008	Obama
14	49.55%	1948	Truman	14	6.95%	1852	Pierce
15	49.54%	1844	Polk	15	5.56%	1992	Clinton
16	49.24%	1916	Wilson	16	4.48%	1948	Truman
17	49.23%	1996	Clinton	17	3.12%	1916	Wilson
18	48.85%	1884	Cleveland	18	3.01%	1892	Cleveland
19	48.63%	1888	Cleveland*	19	3.00%	1876	Tilden*
20	48.38%	2000	Gore*	20	2.06%	1976	Carter
21	46.02%	1892	Cleveland	21	1.46%	1844	Polk
22	45.29%	1856	Buchanan	22	0.83%	1888	Cleveland*
23	43.01%	1992	Clinton	23	0.57%	1884	Cleveland
24	41.84%	1912	Wilson	24	0.52%	2000	Gore*
25	41.36%	1824	Jackson*	25	0.16%	1960	Kennedy

Table 6: All General Elections where the DEMOCRAT won in the popular vote since the GOP became the other main player in US-electoral politics (1856-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	24.25%	1936	Roosevelt, FD
2	60.80%	1936	Roosevelt, FD	2	22.58%	1964	Johnson
3	57.41%	1932	Roosevelt, FD	3	17.72%	1932	Roosevelt, FD
4	54.74%	1940	Roosevelt, FD	4	14.44%	1912	Wilson
5	53.39%	1944	Roosevelt, FD	5	12.20%	1856	Buchanan
6	52.88%	2008	Obama	6	9.95%	1940	Roosevelt, FD
7	50.92%	1876	Tilden*	7	8.52%	1996	Clinton
8	50.08%	1976	Carter	8	7.49%	1944	Roosevelt, FD
9	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	9	7.27%	2008	Obama
10	49.55%	1948	Truman	10	5.56%	1992	Clinton
11	49.24%	1916	Wilson	11	4.48%	1948	Truman
12	49.23%	1996	Clinton	12	3.12%	1916	Wilson
13	48.85%	1884	Cleveland	13	3.01%	1892	Cleveland
14	48.63%	1888	Cleveland*	14	3.00%	1876	Tilden*
15	48.38%	2000	Gore*	15	2.06%	1976	Carter
16	46.02%	1892	Cleveland	16	0.83%	1888	Cleveland*
17	45.29%	1856	Buchanan	17	0.57%	1884	Cleveland
18	43.01%	1992	Clinton	18	0.52%	2000	Gore*
19	41.84%	1912	Wilson	19	0.16%	1960	Kennedy

Table 7: All General Elections where the DEMOCRAT won in the popular vote in the last 100 years (1908-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	24.25%	1936	Roosevelt, FD
2	60.80%	1936	Roosevelt, FD	2	22.58%	1964	Johnson
3	57.41%	1932	Roosevelt, FD	3	17.72%	1932	Roosevelt, FD
4	54.74%	1940	Roosevelt, FD	4	14.44%	1912	Wilson
5	53.39%	1944	Roosevelt, FD	5	9.95%	1940	Roosevelt, FD
6	52.88%	2008	Obama	6	8.52%	1996	Clinton
7	50.08%	1976	Carter	7	7.49%	1944	Roosevelt, FD
8	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	8	7.27%	2008	Obama
9	49.55%	1948	Truman	9	5.56%	1992	Clinton
10	49.24%	1916	Wilson	10	4.48%	1948	Truman
11	49.23%	1996	Clinton	11	3.12%	1916	Wilson
12	48.38%	2000	Gore*	12	2.06%	1976	Carter
13	43.01%	1992	Clinton	13	0.52%	2000	Gore*
14	41.84%	1912	Wilson	14	0.16%	1960	Kennedy

Table 8: All General Elections where the DEMOCRAT won in the popular vote in the last 60 years (1948-2008)

Rank	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	22.58%	1964	Johnson
2	52.88%	2008	Obama	2	8.52%	1996	Clinton
3	50.08%	1976	Carter	3	7.27%	2008	Obama
4	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	4	5.56%	1992	Clinton
5	49.55%	1948	Truman	5	4.48%	1948	Truman
6	49.23%	1996	Clinton	6	2.06%	1976	Carter
7	48.38%	2000	Gore*	7	0.52%	2000	Gore*
8	43.01%	1992	Clinton	8	0.16%	1960	Kennedy

Table 9: All Open or Semi-Open General Elections since the inclusion of the electoral vote in the statistics (1824-2008)

Rank	Cat.	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Cat.	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	S	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	O	26.17%	1920	Harding
2	O	60.32%	1920	Harding	2	S	25.22%	1924	Coolidge
3	O	58.21%	1928	Hoover	3	S	22.58%	1964	Johnson
4	S	56.42%	1904	Roosevelt, T	4	S	18.83%	1904	Roosevelt, T
5	O	55.18%	1952	Eisenhower	5	O	17.42%	1928	Hoover
6	S	54.02%	1924	Coolidge	6	S	14.20%	1836	Van Buren
7	S	53.37%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.	7	O	12.20%	1856	Buchanan
8	O	52.88%	2008	Obama	8	O	10.85%	1952	Eisenhower
9	O	52.66%	1868	Grant	9	O	10.44%	1824	Jackson
10	O	51.57%	1908	Taft	10	S	10.13%	1860	Lincoln
11	O	51.02%	1896	McKinley	11	O	8.53%	1908	Taft
12	O	50.92%	1876	Tilden*	12	S	7.73%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.
13	O	50.83%	1852	Pierce	13	O	7.27%	2008	Obama
14	S	50.79%	1836	Van Buren	14	O	6.95%	1852	Pierce
15	S	50.08%	1976	Carter	15	O	5.33%	1868	Grant
16	S	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	16	O	4.79%	1848	Taylor
17	S	49.55%	1948	Truman	17	S	4.48%	1948	Truman
18	O	49.54%	1844	Polk	18	O	4.31%	1896	McKinley
19	O	48.85%	1884	Cleveland	19	O	3.00%	1876	Tilden*
20	S	48.38%	2000	Gore*	20	S	2.06%	1976	Carter
21	O	48.31%	1880	Garfield	21	O	1.46%	1844	Polk
22	O	47.28%	1848	Taylor	22	S	0.70%	1968	Nixon
23	O	45.29%	1856	Buchanan	23	O	0.57%	1884	Cleveland
24	S	43.42%	1968	Nixon	24	S	0.52%	2000	Gore*
25	O	41.36%	1824	Jackson*	25	S	0.16%	1960	Kennedy
26	S	39.65%	1860	Lincoln	26	O	0.10%	1880	Garfield

Table 9: All Open or Semi-Open General Elections since the GOP and the DEMS have been the main competitors (1856-2008)

Rank	Cat.	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Cat.	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	S	61.05%	1964	Johnson	1	O	26.17%	1920	Harding
2	O	60.32%	1920	Harding	2	S	25.22%	1924	Coolidge
3	O	58.21%	1928	Hoover	3	S	22.58%	1964	Johnson
4	S	56.42%	1904	Roosevelt, T	4	S	18.83%	1904	Roosevelt, T
5	O	55.18%	1952	Eisenhower	5	O	17.42%	1928	Hoover
6	S	54.02%	1924	Coolidge	6	O	12.20%	1856	Buchanan
7	S	53.37%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.	7	O	10.85%	1952	Eisenhower
8	O	52.87%	2008	Obama	8	S	10.13%	1860	Lincoln
9	O	52.66%	1868	Grant	9	O	8.53%	1908	Taft
10	O	51.57%	1908	Taft	10	S	7.73%	1988	Bush, G. Sr.
11	O	51.02%	1896	McKinley	11	O	7.25%	2008	Obama
12	O	50.92%	1876	Tilden*	12	O	5.33%	1868	Grant
13	S	50.08%	1976	Carter	13	S	4.48%	1948	Truman
14	S	49.72%	1960	Kennedy	14	O	4.31%	1896	McKinley
15	S	49.55%	1948	Truman	15	O	3.00%	1876	Tilden*
16	O	48.85%	1884	Cleveland	16	S	2.06%	1976	Carter
17	S	48.38%	2000	Gore*	17	S	0.70%	1968	Nixon
18	O	48.31%	1880	Garfield	18	O	0.57%	1884	Cleveland
19	O	45.29%	1856	Buchanan	19	S	0.52%	2000	Gore*
20	S	43.42%	1968	Nixon	20	S	0.16%	1960	Kennedy
21	S	39.65%	1860	Lincoln	21	O	0.10%	1880	Garfield

Table 10: ONLY Open General Elections since the GOP and the DEMS have been the main competitors (1856-2008)

Rank	Cat.	%	Year	Candidate	Rank	Cat.	Margin	Year	Candidate
1	O	60.32%	1920	Harding	1	O	26.17%	1920	Harding
2	O	58.21%	1928	Hoover	2	O	17.42%	1928	Hoover
3	O	55.18%	1952	Eisenhower	3	O	12.20%	1856	Buchanan
4	O	52.88%	2008	Obama	4	O	10.85%	1952	Eisenhower
5	O	52.66%	1868	Grant	5	O	8.53%	1908	Taft
6	O	51.57%	1908	Taft	6	O	7.27%	2008	Obama
7	O	51.02%	1896	McKinley	7	O	5.33%	1868	Grant
8	O	50.92%	1876	Tilden*	8	O	4.31%	1896	McKinley
9	O	48.85%	1884	Cleveland	9	O	3.00%	1876	Tilden*
10	O	48.31%	1880	Garfield	10	O	0.57%	1884	Cleveland
11	O	45.29%	1856	Buchanan	11	O	0.10%	1880	Garfield

End-Ratings, Obama by percent:

Election Type	No.	Obama Ranking	Obama %ile	Candidate / Place under	Candidate /Place above
All wins	46	18	60.87	Harrison / 1840 / 52.87%	Bush / 1988 / 53.37%
1856 - all	39	17	51.28	Grant / 1868 / 52.66%	Bush / 1988 / 53.37%
1908 - all	26	14	46.15	Taft / 1908 / 51.57%	Bush / 1988 / 53.37%
1948 - all	16	7	56.25	Reagan / 1980 / 50.75%	Bush / 1988 / 53.37%
All DEM wins	25	8	68.00	Tilden / 1872 / 50.92%**	Bush / 1988 / 53.37%
1856- DEM wins	19	6	68.42	Tilden / 1872 / 50.92%**	Roosevelt / 1944 / 53.39%
1908- DEM wins	14	6	57.14	Carter / 1976 / 50.08%	Roosevelt / 1944 / 53.39%
1948- DEM wins	8	2	75.00	Carter / 1976 / 50.08%	Johnson / 1964 / 61.04%
1856- O / SO	21	8	61.90	Grant / 1868 / 52.66%	Bush / 1988 / 53.37%
1856- O only	11	4	63.64	Grant / 1868 / 52.66%	Eisenhower /1952 / 55.18%

**Hayes won the election in an electoral college dispute/backfire, but Tilden won in the PV.

End Ratings, Obama by margin:

Election Type	No.	Obama Ranking	Obama %ile	Candidate / Place under	Candidate / Place above
All	46	27	41.30	Pierce / 1852 / +6.95	Roosevelt / 1944 / +7.49
1856 - all	39	23	41.03	McKinley / 1900 / +6.13	Roosevelt / 1944 / +7.49
1908 - all	26	18	30.77	Clinton / 1992 / +5.56	Roosevelt / 1944 / +7.49
1948 - all	16	9	43.75	Clinton / 1992 / +5.56	Roosevelt / 1944 / +7.49
All DEM wins	25	13	48.00	Pierce / 1852 / +6.95	Roosevelt / 1944 / +7.49
1856- DEM wins	19	9	52.63	Clinton / 1992 / +5.56	Roosevelt / 1944 / +7.49
1908- DEM wins	14	8	42.86	Clinton / 1992 / +5.56	Roosevelt / 1944 / +7.49
1948- DEM wins	8	3	62.50	Clinton / 1992 / +5.56	Clinton / 1996 / +8.52
1856- O / SO	21	11	47.61	Grant / 1868 / +5.33%	Bush / 1988 / +7.73%
1856- O only	11	6	45.45	Grant / 1868 / +5.33%	Taft / 1908 / +8.53%

First, when looking at the end tables, how to interpret:

Example – the first election type, „All“, means all elections since the PV has been counted (since 1824). There have been 46 election cycles since then. In terms of winning percentage, Obama has place 18. In terms of EC win, he has place 27. The percentile is simple: 46-18=28. 28/46=60.87, which means that in terms of winning percentage, Obama is almost in the 61^st percentile (or almost in the upper two thirds) of history. And for the category „All“, he is nestled between Harrison and Bush Sr. In terms of winning percent; his place is between Pierce and Roosevelt (FDR) in terms of winning margin.

You will see from the tables that the place above Obama shows much more stability: in terms of winning percent, the name Bush (Sr.) appears the most often, showing the closest correlation to Obama, going up the ladder. In terms of winning margin, the name Roosevelt (FDR) appears the most often, showing the closest correlation to Obama, going up the ladder.

The place below Obama is much less stable, but the overall percentage below Obama's that he comes closest to is: Grant (1868, 52.66%). The overal margin below Obama's that appears the most often is Bill Clinton from 1992.

Percentiles: one notices that Obama's percentile rises greatly when he is only compared to other DEMOCRATS. But all in all, this win put him on the average somewhere between the 50^th percentile and the 66^th percentile, roughly between the upper one-half and the upper one-third of all US elections.