The Fateful Flight

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Remember how I was looking to decide a timeline idea? Well, I've chosen something pretty different.
__________________________________________________________
October 25th, 2002

Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport

"Preparing for landing."

This was no ordinary flight; Senator Wellstone was en route to Duluth from here to debate with his challenger, Norm Coleman. The two were locked in a tight race, but the incumbent Democrat was beginning to pull ahead, and he hoped that the debate could solidify his new lead in the polls. Despite icy weather, the landing was safe, and the Wellstone family prepared for the final confrontation before the election in just a week.

MINNESOTA SENATE ELECTION, 2002:

Senator Paul Welstone (D) (inc.)-51%
Mayor Norm Coleman (R)-45%
Others-4%

The Senate, just as it briefly did before Senator Jeffords' switch, was split 50-50. However, it was effectively controlled by the Republicans due to Vice President Cheney's tie-breaking vote. Though Trent Lott was expected to be the incoming Senate Majority Leader, comments made at Senator Thurmond's eulogy led him to resign from his leadership position. Therefore, Tennessee Senator Bill Frist would be the Senate Majority Leader; Daschle would keep his position as leader of the Senate Democrats.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Actually, the title is nice but kind of inaccurate, given that this was just a regular flight.

[Simfan34]

I've wanted to see a Wellstone timeline for a long time. A LONG TIME!

Thank you!

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Interesting This will be good.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Interesting This will be good.

Assuming you stick with it.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I know I have a problem with getting bored of my timelines; the problem may be that I think too far ahead instead of focusing on the present (well, in this case 2003-4). I think I've finished a couple short-ish ones that mostly involved 2012 election scenarios.

However, the stuff I did was old news; Humphrey winning in '68, Dean in 2004, etc. Hopefully this is different enough.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I know I have a problem with getting bored of my timelines; the problem may be that I think too far ahead instead of focusing on the present.

Hey, don't worry: I suffer from the same problem! That's why my Hoover timeline's were never finished; while writing about the presidency of Herbert Hoover in the 1920s, I was thinking well into the future - like, for example, the state of the Soviet Union by the 21st century.

You'll be fine. Start off with a short one, then you'll be well on your way

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Skipping ahead to Iowa; nothing different happens overall except in the Democratic primaries. Dean never gains steam and drops out in support of Wellstone, Clark never runs, and the election is now between Kerry, Wellstone, and Edwards (along with Gephardt, Lieberman, Sharpton, etc)

IOWA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS-2004

Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota-33%
Senator John Edwards of North Carolina-26%
Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts-21%
Former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri-16%
Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio-2%
Others/Uncommitted-2%

Kerry, who had based his campaign on being the experienced statesman and war hero best equipped to take on Bush, faced a significant defeat in the caucus. He turned his attention to New Hampshire, where he hoped that the favorite son effect plus support from independent voters could hand him a comeback victory.

Though Senator Wellstone won the caucus, some pundits argued that the true victory was John Edwards. Overlooked for much of the campaign, he had lately gained traction (primarily at Gephardt's expense) and finished a solid second in an important caucus state. South Carolina was almost certainly his, and so he focused on pulling off an upset in New Hampshire, though he trailed after Wellstone and Kerry in the Live Free or Die state. Gephardt, who absolutely needed Iowa, dropped out the day after the caucus.

SurveyUSA poll of registered New Hampshire Democrats, January 24th:

Wellstone-28%
Kerry-25%
Edwards-17%
Lieberman-10%
Kucinich-7%
Others-4%
Undecided-9%

If you look closely, I've given away the winner.

[MRX]

This looks promising! Is Paul gonna win?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

My last sentence was actually talking about New Hampshire in particular, not necessarily the whole country.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY-2004

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts-34%
Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota-31%
Senator John Edwards of North Carolina-18%
Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut-9%
Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio-6%
Others-1%

The upset Kerry win was not only a blow to the Wellstone campaign, but proof of the power of independent voters. Kerry, who had formed an image as the experienced, (comparatively) moderate war hero, and the lack of a Republican candidate attracted independents and even some Republicans to the Primary.

Meanwhile, Lieberman, who almost certainly needed a win in New Hampshire to come back, decided to drop out. Though the frontrunner very early on due to being Gore's running mate in 2000, his support of the Iraq war and perceived moderate to conservative policies on various other issues turned off many Democratic voters. Dropping out after a concession in Concord, Lieberman endorsed Senator Kerry.
_____________________________________________________

January 30th, 2004

CHENEY DECLINES SECOND TERM AS VP
CITES HEALTH PROBLEMS, BUSH TO SELECT RUNNING MATE "BEFORE THE CONVENTION"

[Progressive]

This is a sick timeline...keep it up!!

[Niemeyerite]

Wellstone was a liberal democrat, wasn't he??

[MRX]

Bet I know who Dennis Kuchnich will endorse when he drops out!

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Bush wanted to pick Frist as VP when Cheney offered to resign a second term, but plentu of other interesting choices exist. Perhaps Powell? McCain? Florida will be crucial in the Kerry/Wellstone race.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Wellstone was a liberal democrat, wasn't he??

Yep. Pretty similar to Russ Feingold, actually.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Since February 3rd is Mini-Tuesday, it might be best to just show a map of how it went:

Red=Wellstone
Blue=Kerry
Green=Edwards

There was no clear winner of Mini-Tuesday. Kerry took Delaware and the New Mexico caucus, while Wellstone won Arizona, Missouri, and the North Dakota caucus. Edwards, who won Oklahoma and South Carolina, made his first marks on the map. One could argue that the true winner was Bush; without anyone truly ahead in the Democratic race, he could afford to rest for now. The vetting process alone was enough work, with Cheney himself helping to select his intended successor.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The next update should be ready Saturday.

[MRX]

I look forward to it Snowstalker.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I look forward to it Snowstalker.

[MRX]

Is it ready yet? I can't wait.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

THE TICKET: BUSH/THOMPSON '04

By March, Bush had selected his new running mate--former Tennessee senator and actor Fred Thompson. Like Cheney, he had a long political history and was a major figure in the Watergate investigation. Bush hoped that Thompson would excite conservatives while providing a fearlessly independent mind which Bush hoped would appeal to moderates.


__________________________________________________________
In the Democratic race, February had still failed to produce a clear frontrunner. Wellstone had won Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Idaho, and Utah. Kerry won Maine, Nevada, DC, and Hawaii, while Edwards won only Tennessee and Virginia. Nationally, the race was between Wellstone and Kerry, with Edwards seemingly failing to expand outside the South.

March 2nd was Super Tuesday. The perceived winner of the night was Wellstone, who won the key states of California and New York over Kerry. Edwards fared the worst, winning only Georgia. Kerry dropped out that night, endorsing his "friend and colleague" Wellstone. Edwards decided to fight on longer, hoping that he could pick up Kerry supporters against the more progressive Wellstone. After losing the Kansas Caucus on March 13th, he too dropped out. After that, Wellstone won every other state except for North Carolina, which voted for favorite son Edwards.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

At least it was more competitive than the rl version.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Thoughts on the veep?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Thoughts on the veep?

I like it! Despite only serving one term in the Senate, Fred Thompson seems a good choice. Lots of time in the legal and political circles, plus he's an actor, and you know how Conservatives love their allusions to Reagan. As well, while a definite Conservative, he's much less of a standard "I fill out everything on the Republican platform" Conservative and more of an independent minded Conservative.