That’s the way it has always been. Looking back, the most charismatic candidate has always won or won the popular vote. You can also look at the like/dislike factor. Call it favorable/unfavorable.
2020 Biden 52/46% favorable/unfavorable, Trump 43/56% Biden won
2016 Hillary Clinton 38/56%, Donald Trump 36/60% Hillary won the popular vote
2012 Obama 62/37%, Romney 55/43% Obama won
2008 Obama 62/35%, McCain 60/35% Obama won
2004 G.W. Bush 61/39%, Kerry 57/40% Bush won
2000 G.W. Bush 58/38%, Gore 55/43% Bush won
1996 Bill Clinton 56/42%, Dole 54/45% Clinton won
1992 Bill Clinton 64/33%, G.H.W. Bush 59/40% Clinton won
1988 G.H.W. Bush 56/39%, Dukakis 53/42% Bush won
1984 Reagan 70/30%, Mondale 66/34% Reagan won
1980 Reagan 64/31%, Carter 60/32% Reagan won
And so on on back
Only Trump and Hillary Clinton have had a favorable rating of below 40%, both in 2016. Only 3 presidential candidates have had a favorable rating of below 50%, Clinton in 2016, Trump in both 2016 and 2020, Goldwater in 1964. Only Trump and Clinton have had unfavorable ratings of above 50%, Trump twice and Hillary Clinton once.
The bottom four in favorable/unfavorable
2016 Donald Trump 36/60%
2016 Hillary Clinton 38/56%
2020 Donald Trump 43/56%
1964 Goldwater 43/47%
Just goes to show you how lucky Trump was to have Hillary Clinton as his opponent in 2016. Almost any other Democrat would have beaten him.