"George W. Bush broke a mold four years ago: Even though he lost the popular vote, he governed as if he had won by acclamation"

In this quote, Tony Snow is referring to former President George W. Bush and his unconventional method to governing. Snow states that four years ago, Bush broke the standard mold of a president by governing as if he had actually won the election by a big bulk, even though he had really lost the popular vote. This suggests that Bush was confident and assertive in his management, in spite of not having the majority assistance of the American people. Snow's use of the phrase "by acclamation" suggests that Bush acted as if he had frustrating approval and assistance from the public, even though this was not the case. In general, Snow is highlighting Bush's distinct and determined style of management.