2012: Barack Obama vs Michelle Bachmann

[NewYorkExpress]

Michelle Bachmann wins the Iowa Caucuses, and sweeps her way to the Republican nomination in 2012.

Facing her is the incumbent, Barack Obama.

Who does Bachmann pick as her running mate?

What does the map look like?

[Adjective-Statement]

President Barack Obama (D-IL) / Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) ✓
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) / Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

Bachmann either successfully awakens the energy Trump tapped into or fails. I doubt she can do it.

[Annihilation]

It's a blowout. Bachmann was seen as completely crazy and she was a very poor debater.

[Non-consecutive Two Term Floridian]

Yeah Bachmann is one of the few candidates who could've resulted in an even bigger win for Obama and the Dems than in 2008.

[NYSforKennedy2024]

Obama 352 - Bachmann 186

[CadetCashBoi]

President Barack Obama (D-IL) / Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) ✓ EV: 403 PV: 135 51.5%
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) / Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) EV: 135 PV: 39.1%
Governor Gary Johnson (L)-New Mexico/Ambassador Jon Huntsman 8.9%

Whatever one thinks of Trump he did have some crossover appeal and was running against a uniquely unpopular opponent. Michelle Bachmann had none. She'd basically alienate every faction of the GOP other then the religious right and you get a #NeverBachmann Republican movement with many abandoning ship to vote for Gary Johnson who polls well enough to be included in the debates. Obama makes the gains that Hillary would in the suburbs four years later but without her corresponding losses in the rust belt.

FYI: My rationale for giving Obama the Dakotas and Montana while losing South Carolina despite having lost them by a wider margin in OTL is that I think the South Carolina GOP vote is more inelastic and any minor gains Obama would make their would be cancelled out by more fervent religious right support for Bachmann and her gaining votes that Romney likely lost due to his Mormonism.

[Annihilation]

President Barack Obama (D-IL) / Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) ✓ EV: 403 PV: 135 51.5%
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) / Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) EV: 135 PV: 39.1%
Governor Gary Johnson (L)-New Mexico/Ambassador Jon Huntsman 8.9%

Whatever one thinks of Trump he did have some crossover appeal and was running against a uniquely unpopular opponent. Michelle Bachmann had none. She'd basically alienate every faction of the GOP other then the religious right and you get a #NeverBachmann Republican movement with many abandoning ship to vote for Gary Johnson who polls well enough to be included in the debates. Obama makes the gains that Hillary would in the suburbs four years later but without her corresponding losses in the rust belt.

FYI: My rationale for giving Obama the Dakotas and Montana while losing South Carolina despite having lost them by a wider margin in OTL is that I think the South Carolina GOP vote is more inelastic and any minor gains Obama would make their would be cancelled out by more fervent religious right support for Bachmann and her gaining votes that Romney likely lost due to his Mormonism.

I get your SC rational but don't you think Obama would have carried Indiana if Gary Johnson was doing that well? The Libertarian party is very strong there.

[CadetCashBoi]

President Barack Obama (D-IL) / Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) ✓ EV: 403 PV: 135 51.5%
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) / Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) EV: 135 PV: 39.1%
Governor Gary Johnson (L)-New Mexico/Ambassador Jon Huntsman 8.9%

Whatever one thinks of Trump he did have some crossover appeal and was running against a uniquely unpopular opponent. Michelle Bachmann had none. She'd basically alienate every faction of the GOP other then the religious right and you get a #NeverBachmann Republican movement with many abandoning ship to vote for Gary Johnson who polls well enough to be included in the debates. Obama makes the gains that Hillary would in the suburbs four years later but without her corresponding losses in the rust belt.

FYI: My rationale for giving Obama the Dakotas and Montana while losing South Carolina despite having lost them by a wider margin in OTL is that I think the South Carolina GOP vote is more inelastic and any minor gains Obama would make their would be cancelled out by more fervent religious right support for Bachmann and her gaining votes that Romney likely lost due to his Mormonism.

I get your SC rational but don't you think Obama would have carried Indiana if Gary Johnson was doing that well? The Libertarian party is very strong there.

Good point actually, consider Indiana flipped.