1980 Election

[SPC]

On the Republican side, Reagan's insurgent candidacy against the incumbent President collapsed in the face of the Iranian hostage crisis, which instantly boosted Ford's approval ratings. Ford achieved narrow wins against Reagan throughout the primary process, with the final blow occurring after negative reaction to Reagan's Hail Mary decision to deem Senator Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania his running mate. In contrast, the Democratic side was relatively uneventful, with Senator Frank Church's clear attacks on the Ford administration's foreign policy making him the clear frontrunner. Some Democrats are anxious about the effect that nominating a dove will have in the face of foreign crises in Iran and Afghanistan, but feel that the poor economy should more than compensate electorally. Many disaffected Reagan supporters have considered voting Libertarian, although the Clark campaign's pitch of "low-tax liberalism" may attract more Democratic voters instead.

[SPC]

As I am obligated to vote Mo Udall as a tremendous Mo Udall fanboy, and he's the VP choice in this instance (and Church isn't too bad either), easily Church/Udall. I assume Udall doesn't have Parkinson's in this timeline?

It is still in its early stages.

[SPC]

50-state landslide for Church. Moving on...