Regardless of popularity, his strategy of denying his mistakes got him as far as the white house, which I'd say is pretty far, but probably cost him the reelect

Regardless of popularity, his strategy of denying his mistakes got him as far as the white house, which I'd say is pretty far, but probably cost him the reelection. Handling your mistakes poorly is not the end, but it does weigh you down more than otherwise. There are better strategies. That's the point.