What if John Kerry would've competed against George Bush in 1992?

[Jerseyrules]

I think that Kerry kind of fits the Mitt Romney mold; both are wealthy men, just like almost every other serious presidential candidate has been in recent history, but the difference is that neither is able to connect with average Americans and convince them that they understand the concerns of ordinary middle- and working-class voters.  Both men faced candidates that were probably beatable incumbents.  And I think that only Clinton could have won in 1992, and even then only narrowly, after a combination of factors had worked in his favor (recession, Perot, No New Taxes, etc.)

It's unfortunate men like Kerry and Romney, both bipartisan consensus-builders, both with substantive experience (Kerry on foreign policy / military experience, Romney as an executive in government and a very successful business career, etc.), both of whom would probably have made competent presidents, were unable to run good campaigns and emotionally connect with the electorate.

[Jerseyrules]

And I think that only Clinton could have won in 1992, and even then only narrowly, after a combination of factors had worked in his favor (recession, Perot, No New Taxes, etc.)

For most of 1992, George HW Bush had an approval rating of 40% or less and a disapproval rating of 50% or more. Any half competent nominee, including John Kerry, would have won.

And to completely destroy the myth that we needed Clinton to win in 1992, in this poll Tsongas led Bush by 5, while Clinton led by only 2.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-03-11/news/9203110549_1_margin-of-error-bush-tsongas

Yes but Perot's presence in the race also greatly contributed.  Not to mention the fact that Clinton is a lot more charismatic than Tsongas, and a much more rigorous campaigner.  I think Clinton's ground game and charm with voters was a major factor in his victory, and that Tsongas might have fizzled in a general election.  After all, he didn't really attempt to distance himself from Reaganomics in the way that Clinton did, although he might have actually eaten up some of Perot's supporters with his tough talk on the deficit:

http://www.4president.org/brochures/paultsongas1992brochure.htm