2000 TL blueprint

[Mr. Morden]

Like I said in another thread, if Bush didn't run in 2000, then you would have had candidates like John Engler, Tommy Thompson, Frank Keating, and possibly one or two other GOP governors would have run (maybe Tom Ridge?).  It would have been the most crowded presidential primary field in modern history.  There were a lot of popular, or at least somewhat popular, second or third term Republican governors at that time*, but all of them passed on running once they saw how formidable the Bush political machine was, and then lined up behind him.  I remember in 1999, Tommy Thompson being asked if there was any chance of him running for president, and he said "No, I have the wrong last name."

*Remember, there was an economic boom in the late 1990s, so quite a few governors of both parties were popular, but the GOP controlled more governorships at that time, especially in the Rust Belt.

[Mr. Morden]

I don't think there was ever much chance of Quayle shaking off his Palinesque image.  There was little indication that Republicans were warming to him in 1999.  He did finish *eighth place* in the Iowa Straw Poll, and that's for someone who had high name recognition.

But yes, Dole would have stayed in the race longer.  So would Alexander.  Forbes had piles of $ to spend because of his personal fortune.  And of course those other potential candidates already mentioned would have actually run.  It would have been a circus.