I don't have the time to finish this timeline unfortunately so in case anyone wanted to know how it would work out:
2004 Presidential Election
John Kerry - 49.2% 284 EVGeorge W. Bush - 49.5% 254 EV2004 Senate RacesKey Races:
Ken Salazar def. Pete Coors
Melissa Hart def. Joe Hoeffel
Betty Castor def. Mel Martinez
Inez Tannenbaum def. Tom Ravenel
Chris John def. David Vitter
Erskine Bowles def. Richard Burr
Tom Daschle def. John Thune
Daniel Mongiardo def. Jim Bunning
Democrats - 51 Seats +2 (Inc. Jeffords)Republicans - 49 Seats - 22004 - 2006 Political Developments:
- Hillary Clinton appointed Sec. of State, replaced by Al D'Amato who promises to not run in the 2006 Election.
- Kerry Admin tries and fails to overhaul the healthcare system after multiple southern Democratic senators refuse to back the sweeping bill introduced.
Kerry appoints Harold Koh (73- 17) to the supreme court in a relatively noncontroversial hearing following Rhienquist's passing and Diana Motz (56- 44) in a much more controversial hearing where the "Nuclear option" had to be invoked after Rick Santorum leads conservative opposition.
- Kerry begins to face opposition in his party over his handling of the Iraq war. Republicans have blasted him for being too soft on Terror since the beginning of his administration, but now minor and local elections in Cities are being won by Green candidates. In New York City, a Green candidate beats out the Democrat to come Second to Mike Bloomberg, with some even calling the Democrat the spoiler in the race.
2006 Senate ElectionsKey Races:
Jeb Bush def. Bill Nelson
Amy Klobuchar def. Mark Kennedy
Bob Casey def. Rick Santorum
Mike DeWine def. Merill Kesier
Lincoln Chaffee def. Sheldon Whitehouse
Richard Riordan def. Diane Feinstein
Jodi Rell def. Joe Lieberman
Tom Kean Jr. def. Bob Menendez
Dino Rossi def. Maria Cantwell
Caroline Kennedy def. Rudy Giuliani (to replace D'Amato)
I'll continue to post the ending I had planned at somepoint