Al Gore/Patty Murray vs. John McCain/John Engler (2000)

[Bo]

Also, Gore asks Clinton to campaign a lot for him throughout the campaign, which Clinton agrees to do. In addition, Gore makes the good economy a centerpiece of his campaign. Everything else stays the same. I'm thinking Gore narrowly wins.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Closest states: FL, WI, PA, TN, AR. Hesitant about NV and NM though.

[Bo]

Closest states: FL, WI, PA, TN, AR. Hesitant about NV and NM though.

I'd give NV, WI, MI, NH, TN, and the other Maine EV to Gore. I think that Murray would be able to increase base/liberal turnout (also some voters who planned to vote for Nader might vote for Gore due to his liberal VP) while simaultaneously energizing the female vote in favor of Gore. Also, I think Clinton's campaigning and Gore's emphasis on the good economy would be enough for him to pull off a victory. I know McCain is more charismatic/moderate (and thus more appealing) than Bush was, but I think that having a female VP and having a popular President campaign for Gore will more than offset McCain's advantage in the electability department.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Closest states: FL, WI, PA, TN, AR. Hesitant about NV and NM though.

I'd give NV, WI, MI, NH, TN, and the other Maine EV to Gore. I think that Murray would be able to increase base/liberal turnout (also some voters who planned to vote for Nader might vote for Gore due to his liberal VP) while simaultaneously energizing the female vote in favor of Gore. Also, I think Clinton's campaigning and Gore's emphasis on the good economy would be enough for him to pull off a victory. I know McCain is more charismatic/moderate (and thus more appealing) than Bush was, but I think that having a female VP and having a popular President campaign for Gore will more than offset McCain's advantage in the electability department.

Gore himself was pretty liberal, and I don't think a female token candidate delivers much from anything. Despite Clinton's campaigning, if Bush was able to grab NH and make ME close, I see no reason why McCain wouldn't, and also do well in the Great Lakes with Engler.

[Bo]

Closest states: FL, WI, PA, TN, AR. Hesitant about NV and NM though.

I'd give NV, WI, MI, NH, TN, and the other Maine EV to Gore. I think that Murray would be able to increase base/liberal turnout (also some voters who planned to vote for Nader might vote for Gore due to his liberal VP) while simaultaneously energizing the female vote in favor of Gore. Also, I think Clinton's campaigning and Gore's emphasis on the good economy would be enough for him to pull off a victory. I know McCain is more charismatic/moderate (and thus more appealing) than Bush was, but I think that having a female VP and having a popular President campaign for Gore will more than offset McCain's advantage in the electability department.

Gore himself was pretty liberal, and I don't think a female token candidate delivers much from anything. Despite Clinton's campaigning, if Bush was able to grab NH and make ME close, I see no reason why McCain wouldn't, and also do well in the Great Lakes with Engler.

I don't think many people considered Gore liberal back in 2000. I mean, 3% of the voters decided to vote for Nader (who they knew was a lost cause) because they thought Gore was too conservative, and many more liberal voters stayed home altogether for the same reason. BTW, a lot of women wanted a female VP, and Murray seems to be pretty competent so there is little potential to backfire. In a close election this will matter, since I think many undecided female voters will vote for Gore due to the VP. I also think that many liberal/Nader voters would find Murray appealing (due to her political positions) and vote for Gore instead. BTW, Clinton didn't campaign for Gore in RL. That's why Bush manged to win New Hampshire and come close in Maine and several other states. Also I think Gore's emphasis on the good economy and Clinton's campaigning will further swing many undecided voters in favor of Gore. In regards to Michigan, Gore beat Bush there by 5% in RL. Despite McCain's greater electability, Gore would probably still win due to Clinton's campaigning and his female VP. These two factors should also help Gore win some other states (like WI) in the Great Lakes region.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Closest states: FL, WI, PA, TN, AR. Hesitant about NV and NM though.

This, though I might flip IA and NM.