2008 Edwards Vs McCain

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

John Edward/Brian Schweitzer 419
John McCain/Tim Pawlentey     119


This map might seem a bit farfetched but consider it this way. Butterfly out Edwards meeting Rielle Hunter and say Obama doesn't run, deciding that it's too soon. Without Obama in the race Edwards picks up the bulk of the anti-war and netroots support on the left and upsets Hillary. Without Obama as the Democratic nominee there's less pressure on McCain to do something out of left field so he goes with the conventional establishment choice of Tim Pawlentey which does nothing to excite the base. Edwards picks Brian Schweitzer to help him in the west and solidify his working class populist message. Running a populist "two americas" campaign in the aftermath of the 2008 crash with McCain floundering and low GOP enthusiasm allows Edwards to win a landslide victory, doing well in the places that Obama didn't.

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

Edwards won't win New Hampshire, Connecticut, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware or Maine that way, stands to lose Florida.

All of the South and Flyover Country are Solidly Atlas Blue, and Schweitzer is a foot-in-mouther.

And McCain is moderate, so he'll probably pull out and get Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

No, Edwards is the worst choice against McCain.

Your map fits a Mit Romney vs John Edwards campaign better.


Why would Edwards do worse in that much of the northeast and swing states? Keep in mind how unpopular the Republicans were after the 2008 crash. Also in 2008 a white Democrat still could have won in Appalachia even if it's out of reach now.

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

Edwards vs Romney would be interesting also, and probably an even bigger landslide since in the anti-Wall Street mood of 2008 Romney would be seen as representing everything wrong with corporate America. I think that could even end up being a 1932 or 1980 sized margin of victory.

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

Edwards/Schweitzer 463
Romney/Pawlentey      75