At the end of jefferson's second term it seems that the political situation should have made jefferson's party very vulnerable in the next presidential election. yet despite serious problems james madison won the presidency. how did jefferson's popularity, the political ineptitude of the federalists, and other factors explain these results?

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

We are talking about the US Presidential election of 1808, where James Madison (Republican-Democratic candidate) defeated Charles Cotesworth Pickney (Federalist candidate).

Despite the difficult decisions Jefferson had to take such as the Embargo Act of 1807 that was not well accepted by many Americans, James Madison -as a Secretary of the State in both Jefferson's tenures- had enough acceptance among American citizens. Madison had overseen the Louisiana Purchase with major success and people knew he was an honorable, capable man to conduct the US government. His reputation as a good negotiator and author of the Bill of Rights included in the US Constitution were important factors in his victory.