Frank Church in 1976

[Sir Mohamed]

Would Idaho Senator Frank Church, best known for the Chruch Comitee, have won in 1976 as Democratic nominee against President Ford?

[MisSkeptic]

Was he a peanut farmer? No. Then he had no chance to defeat Ford! No, It's not impossible. I was reading a little from his Wikipedia page and liked the "Church Committee" he founded. He could have used it against Ford in the general election to help him win.

[Kingpoleon]

Who would Church have ran with?

Bayh, McCarthy, Muskie, or Gravel all seem like possibilities.

If he wanted to balance the party, Udall or Boren seem like good choices IMO.

[Lincoln Republican]

I seriously doubt Church would have defeated Ford in 1976.

Carter was barely able to defeat Ford, it was a very close election, and Carter had a strong base in the south to add to his wins elsewhere, a base I believe Church would not have.

I do not believe Church was strong enough.

Possible running mates, Senator Dale Bumpers of Arkansas,  Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia, in an attempt to bring some balance to the ticket, as Church was very liberal.

 

[VPH]

Potential VP picks for Church: Dale Bumpers, Sam Nunn, Robert Byrd, Ernest Hollings

[Kingpoleon]

330 - 208
Pres. Gerald Ford(R-MI)/Gov. Jim Rhodes(R-OH) - 50.2%
Sen. Frank Church(D-ID)/Rep. Morris Udall(D-AZ) - 46.1%
Other: 2.6%

[Mr. Smith]

Church/Carter
Ford/Dole


Carter barely campaigned in the West and didn't inspire Seattle and San Francisco to turn out in droves the way Church would. And Carter would save him a few of the Southern states, but he'd still lose most of 'em.

[President Johnson]

Some states switch into the Ford column.

President Gerald Ford/Senator Robert Dole: 50.71% (320 EV.)
Senator Frank Church/Former Governor Jimmy Carter: 47.23% (218 EV.)