For the first time since 1952

For the first time since 1952, the 2008 president election ballot will not include the incumbent president or vice-president.

In 1952, Truman opted against reelection, and his vice president was not the Democratic nominee (he came in 6th in the first round balloting at the convention). In 1956, Dwight Eisenhower was up for reelection. In 1960, Eisenhower's vice president, Nixon, lost to JFK. In 1964, LBJ ran as the incumbent President. In 1968, LBJ's vice-president, Hubert Humphrey, was the Democratic nominee. In 1972, Nixon cruised to reelection. In 1976, Ford ran as the incumbent President. In 1980, Carter lost his bid for reelection. In 1984, President Reagan was reelected. In 1988, Reagan's vice president, George H.W. Bush won. In 1992, Bush 41 lost his reelection bid. In 1996, incumbent President Clinton was reelected. In 2000, Clinton's vice president, Al Gore, was the Democratic nominee. And of course, in 2004, President Bush 43 was reelected handily.

For the first time in over 50 years, the candidate faced by the opposition party will not be inextricably intertwined with the incumbent. Gov. Dukakis could rail against "Reagan-Bush." W. could lambaste "Clinton-Gore." But if the Democrats try to run against "Bush-Cheney," when nobody by those names is on the ballot, they're not going to gain much traction.