Gore wins MO and maybe keeps TN and even AR. In part because of Bayh’s more moderate social stances. Being a moderate Dem from the Midwest would definitely help in MO I think, how could anyone seriously think otherwise? Hell even OH may be on the table.
FL, not so sure about, but it wouldn’t matter in this case.
Won't Bayh's abortion stance depress the base?
In 2000, opposition to “partial birth” abortion was hardly disqualifying for a Democrat. I doubt it even would be now. Gore himself was known for more socially conservative stances than that in 1992. Any slight drop in base enthusiasm it may cause I think would be more than outweighed by greater appeal to swing voters in the midwest and South.
Note that the article you cited mentions Gore wasn’t worried about it, and hell Obama even considered Bayh in 2008.