1976- Reagan/Helms vs. Carter/Mondale

[Dancing with Myself]

Let's say at the convention Reagan listens to the advice of fellow conservatives and his campaign team and picks one of his major supporters Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina to be his VP instead of Schweiker. Reagan wins the nomination over Ford, and begins to campaign as the Republican nominee.

What would happen on Election Day?  Reagan would be an underdog through the campaign but he campaigns well, better than Carter. He does not have anything to do with Nixon and Watergate, and is also an outsider. Here is what I would think would happen:

What do you all think?

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

Let's say at the convention Reagan listens to the advice of fellow conservatives and his campaign team and picks one of his major supporters Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina to be his VP instead of Schweiker. Reagan wins the nomination over Ford, and begins to campaign as the Republican nominee.

What would happen on Election Day?  Reagan would be an underdog through the campaign but he campaigns well, better than Carter. He does not have anything to do with Nixon and Watergate, and is also an outsider. Here is what I would think would happen:

What do you all think?

For reference, the EC goes 279-259 to Reagan.

[Username MechaRFK]

Reagan was still too out there back in 1976. Carter still wins the election, just like he did in the real world.

[Dancing with Myself]

Reagan was still too out there back in 1976. Carter still wins the election, just like he did in the real world.

I really doubt it actually

[Username MechaRFK]

Reagan was still too out there back in 1976. Carter still wins the election, just like he did in the real world.

I really doubt it actually

If people think Ashbrook couldn't win 1972, then  Reagan defintley wouldn't any chance in hell winning the presidency.

[Dancing with Myself]

Reagan was still too out there back in 1976. Carter still wins the election, just like he did in the real world.

I really doubt it actually

If people think Ashbrook couldn't win 1972, then  Reagan defintley wouldn't any chance in hell winning the presidency.

Reagan won 25 states in the primary, did you forget that? If the country was not ready him he would not have won any state, and Ford would have easily been nominated.

Reagan was twenty times the campaigner Carter was, and I am pretty sure that Reagan would have won despite Helms.

[freepcrusher]

Reagan does better in a few states, but he severely underperforms Carter in a lot of NE states and loses. Plus, his running mate would be a huge drag similar to Palin in '08.

[Dancing with Myself]

Reagan does better in a few states, but he severely underperforms Carter in a lot of NE states and loses. Plus, his running mate would be a huge drag similar to Palin in '08.

Map?

[Dancing with Myself]

Either this:

Or on a bad day for Reagan, maybe this:

For once I actually agree with you there

[Dancing with Myself]

Is there any conceivable way that Reagan looses the 1976 general election, but wins in 1980 still?

Unless Reagan makes the gaff Ford did I doubt it

[Dancing with Myself]

Is there any conceivable way that Reagan looses the 1976 general election, but wins in 1980 still?

Unless Reagan makes the gaff Ford did I doubt it

No, but if Reagan wins the '76 nomination but looses the general election that year, is there any conceivable way that he could come back and win the whole thing in 1980?

Yes I do believe he would have had a chance again. None of the 1980 candidate besides Reagan had any charisma. Bush Sr. would have given him a hell of a challenge though

[Thomas D]

Carter 309-229.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Reagan wouldn't win in 1976. Not after eight years of the Republican rule, including Watergate, as well as alienating moderate Republicans with unseating Ford.

Reagan was lucky to lose 1976 nomination, because that opened him a door for 1980. Had he won in 1976, he'd be merely a footnote in American history.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Reagan: 50% PV, 315 EV
Carter: 49% PV, 223 EV

[Liberalrocks]

Carter/Mondale   279  50%
Reagan/Helms     259  49%