1984: Kennedy vs Bush

[Blackacre]

1980: Jimmy Carter destroys Ronald Reagan in the debates and pulls off a decent win:

The economy goes exactly as it did in real life: faltering in 1982 gives Republican control of the Senate, but by the time 1984 rolls around, the economy is in good shape.

Ted Kennedy, who did not run in 1980 in this world, runs in '84 and wins the nomination. He chooses as his running mate Geraldine Ferarro. George Bush gets the GOP nomination and chooses Senate Majority Leader Howard Barker as his running mate.

What happens? Elaborate with maps.

[ask_not]

Kennedy
301
Bush
203

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

John Anderson would have to not run in 1980 in order for Carter to have a chance at winning. And, hed have to feed into the narrative that "Reagan was crazy and didn't know what he was doing" by killing him in the Debate. Lets say that happens and all of Anderson's would-be voters go to Carter. The most likely result would be a narrow win for Carter.

Carter-Mondale 275
Reagan-Bush 263

With the economy chugging along like it is IRL in 1984, Democrats receive a major boost. But I doubt Teddy would pick Ferraro. Mondale only did that because he was far behind and needed a boost. Kennedy would likely pick a southerner. With a roaring Economy and Southern running-mate, Kennedy overcomes the "New England Liberal" stereotype. He gets a landslide, but not at the magnitude of Reagan's.

Kennedy/Bentsen 453
Bush/Baker 85

[Undecided Voter in the Midwest]

In an alternate universe where Carter's policies actually helped the economy.... Kennedy would win pretty easily I think.

[หมูเด้ง]

I wonder how things would be different today. Would the Democrats has passed UHC in the 80s or 90s or would there be a conservative backlash eventually? And if not, what would happen with Gays and pot? Certainly Iraq would have never happened.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Ted Kennedy- 425
George H.W. Bush- 113
Kennedy wins a near-landslide victory simply by virtue of his last name.