2008: Clinton/Kaine vs Trump/Pence

[MainstreamCon]

How would the exact 2016 tickets have turned out in 2008?

[Agonized-Statism]

Businessman Donald Trump (R-NY) / Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN)
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) / Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA) ✓

I think a populist Trump would make compelling arguments to an America mired in the Great Recession and tired of the Middle East wars, but the Republican brand is still tarnished by Bush, Clinton would probably offer the more coherent plan, and it's probably a little too soon for Trump's style to be accepted in Bush's America.

[NewYorkExpress]

Senator Clinton/Governor Tim Kaine 58% 430 EV
Businessman Donald Trump/Representative Mike Pence 40% 108 EV

Like Romney, Trump would be able to be presented as out of touch on the economy no matter which party he was running with, and his nativism probably wouldn't helped Republicans much in 2008.

Picking Pence saves Indiana for Trump, but it is the closest state in the nation, decided by a couple of thousand votes.

[MATTROSE94]

There is no way that Donald Trump would have decided to run against for the Republican nomination in 2008. At the time, Trump was a very liberal Democrat and a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton. Trump only switched over to the Republican Party after Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee in June of 2008.

[Alben Barkley]

There is no way that Donald Trump would have decided to run against for the Republican nomination in 2008. At the time, Trump was a very liberal Democrat and a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton. Trump only switched over to the Republican Party after Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee in June of 2008.

I wouldn’t say he was ever “very liberal” or a “strong supporter” of Hillary. He had a pattern of being a contrarian, opposing whatever party was in power — most of the 80s he was a Democrat, most of the 90s a Republican, most of the 2000s a Democrat again, and of course most of the 2010s a Republican again. His stated reasoning for supporting Democrats at that time was that the economy did better under them (even though he said “it shouldn’t”) and that he opposed Bush and Iraq (although not at first). He probably supported Hillary because she represented New York, he knew her somewhat, and he credited Bill with the good economy in the late 90s. Oh and also she was white. But then of course when the black man came in he was VERY quick to abandon ship. Given his record, he probably would have found some reason to oppose Hillary and switch parties even if she won. But Obama never had a chance of getting his support.

[President Biden Democrat]

It is fairly obvious that Clinton/Kaine would have won in 2008, against almost any opponent. Clinton was much more popular. Also, it was 2008, virtually would have won in a Democratic wave election.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)/Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA): 400 EV √
Businessman Donald Trump (R-NY)/Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN): 138 EV