The resentment election

Some presidential elections are fueled by fear. Ronald Reagan won in 1980 because the country was afraid of developments at home and abroad.

Some contests run on gratitude and hope, including Reagan's re-election and President Obama's first win. Some, as with the election of George H.W. Bush and President Clinton's re-election, are simply safe bets.

And throughout American history some elections have been driven by resentment and revenge. 2016 seems to me to be one of those, ranking with the 1968 vote after a year of tears, misery and war, as well as the "Bloody Shirt" elections following the Civil War.

Only a relatively few voters are marching door to door this year inspired by Hillary Clinton's or Donald Trump's personal stories of triumph over long odds or their promises of a new morning in America.

Quite a few are campaigning because they are very, very ticked off at one thing or another — or many things.