Someone could be a far leftist and still be pragmatic. Clinton and Gore, at the time, were advocating for centrist goals, not just being realistic.

How many far left pragmatists are there in current American politics? Serious question.

Also, centrist goals are, if not the majority goals, then at least the plurality. Last year's primary had a far left type and a moderate. The moderate won the popular vote by double digits, absolutely dominating in the Southern states - the majority black primary states that make up a huge chunk of the Democratic base.

Yes, key point being "electoral". He never mustered up a majority of the vote. This was an election where there were basically three "moderates", and he was the most charismatic (exciting) of the bunch, and still couldn't get a majority of the vote.

Turnout in the 1996 election was 49%. Clinton won by 8.5 points, the largest popular vote margin of victory since 1984. Obama's 2008 margin was the second largest. Clinton won 49% of the popular vote, just short of a majority. If turnout had been a bit higher, he would've won a majority.