Why was the Watergate break in entirely unnecessary?

The Watergate break-in was unnecessary because the Nixon administration had already established a significant lead in the 1972 presidential election, and they were likely to win without resorting to espionage. Additionally, the campaign had access to numerous legal strategies for gathering intelligence on opponents. The break-in ultimately led to a major scandal, resulting in the resignation of President Nixon and a loss of public trust in the government, underscoring that the risks far outweighed any perceived benefits.