He wasn't the nominee.
Eight years ago, Gallup poll, 9/19-21/2003:
Wes Clark 22
Howard Dean 13
John Kerry 11
Dick Gephardt 11
Joe Lieberman 10
Four years ago, Gallup poll, 9/14-16/2007:
Hillary Clinton 47
Barack Obama 25
John Edwards 11
Rudy Giuliani 30
Fred Thompson 22
John McCain 18
Mitt Romney 7
In other words, it's way too early to start declaring winners and losers.