Ron Paul fan, here. Here's how I think it would have gone down........
John Edwards starts off the campaigne attacking RP for his fringe ideas regarding economics, taxes and the FED. RP's radical followers such as the Truthers and other randomn libertarian nutcases are exposed. The DNC begins running TV commercials with an image of Paul wearing a tin-foil hat and a voiceover saying "God forbid we allow our children to grow up in a country where you can smoke pot and carry an M16 in public!" Sensing a Goldwater-esque defeat, Ron Paul takes the merciless beating all the way up until the Edwards affair gets leaked in the fall. Shortly thereafter, the debates come up: Paul finally gets a chance to explain himself and he executes with boldness and perfection. Paul displays his great intellect and honesty while Edwards, already bruised by his despicable affair, appears creepy, unlikeable and intolerant. Paul tears Edwards apart for his flip-flopping on Iraq, the Patriot Act, etc. and exposes him for the cookie-cutter political hack that he is. America finds Paul's performance refreshing and inspiring and the debates help RP get back in the race.
Paul makes inroads with genuine liberal progressives and conservatives while Edwards grabs moderates and FOX/CNN/NBC watchers and, for a while, it seems as if a re-alignment is taking place. However, Edwards benefits from the Wall Street meltdown and with the help of the MSM and millions of ignorant Americans including anti-bush (not anti-war) Democrats and fake Republicans, holds on for a strong electoral victory 344-194 and a 51%-47% popular vote.
John Edwards (D), President Elect........
