Is the electoral college the reason why Bush vs Gore and Trump vs Clinton are the most controversial 21st-century presidential elections?

Question

I was born in 2001, I am focusing on my birth-century and I have these articles:

Bush VS Gore: The first election of the new millennium, proved to be one of the most memorable Presidential elections for all of the wrong reasons. The election would see Democrat and former Vice-President Al Gore facing off against Texas Governor, and the son of former President George H.W. Bush, republican George W. Bush. Coming into the election, there were not any major polarizing issues that were effecting the American people. This forced both candidates to campaign on issues like tax rates, and the federal budget. What would make this election so memorable, would be the counting of votes in the state of Florida. After all of the votes were tallied, the margin of the votes in Florida, triggered a recount of all of the state’s votes. With the election being so close, the electoral votes in Florida would decide the outcome of the election. The legal battle that would ensue, would make its way all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Bush would be declared the victor.

Trump vs Clinton: I think Russia hacked the system, because Russia despised Hillary and this poll: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton-5491.html

Made it obvious that Clinton was suppose to win.

Answer 1

They are both examples of how someone who lost the election got to be president.

Answer 2

There has only been 3 presidential elections that mattered at all, so no, there is no way that those 2 elections could be the most controversial at all since so few have been done.

Answer 3

No. Its the "Fourth Branch of Government". Which is the press. Yes, its unofficially called the fourth branch. The press/media has ruined it all

Answer 4

Yes.



But think about this. In both campaigns, and both candidates in each of those campaigns, were trying to win Electoral votes. They specifically structured their campaigns and devoted resources with the goal of winning Electoral votes. No one was trying to win the popular vote.



Simply put, both Bush and Trump succeeded in that goal. Gore and Clinton failed in that goal.



If they had been trying to win the popular vote, we would have seen radically different campaigns both times.



As for the Bush campaign and the Supreme Court, a consortium of news outfits spent almost a year recounting all those votes. Their conclusion was that Bush still wins, even without the Supreme Court. See the first link.



As for Russia tipping the election, even President Obama himself said that didn't happen.