1980: Vice President Bob Dole vs. John Gleen

[Turbo Flame]

Lets say after Gerald Ford wins the 1976 Election, mostly everything remains the same. How would the Vice President Bob Dole would have done against Astronaut turned Senator John Gleen in the following election?

[Alben Barkley]

[President Johnson]

There was not going to be a fourth consecutive Republican term in 1980. Furthermore, Ford reelected means he had to deal with a number of domestic and foreign challenges in the late 1970s. Ford would have done better than Carter on almost every front, but 1980 would have seen a Democrat returing to the White House. And probably be reelected very easily. All too bad Ford didn't win in 1976. He would not just saved us from the Gipper, he would also have deserved a full term.

✓ Senator John Glenn (D-OH)/Former Governor Reubin Askew (D-FL): 411 EV. (54.78%)
Vice President Robert J. Dole (R-KS)/Representative Jack French Kemp (R-NY): 127 EV. (43.35%)

[Alben Barkley]

There was not going to be a fourth consecutive Republican term in 1980. Furthermore, Ford reelected means he had to deal with a number of domestic and foreign challenges in the late 1970s. Ford would have done better than Carter on almost every front, but 1980 would have seen a Democrat returing to the White House. And probably be reelected very easily. All too bad Ford didn't win in 1976. He would not just saved us from the Gipper, he would also have deserved a full term.

✓ Senator John Glenn (D-OH)/Former Governor Reubin Askew (D-FL): 411 EV. (54.78%)
Vice President Robert J. Dole (R-KS)/Representative Jack French Kemp (R-NY): 127 EV. (43.35%)

The incumbent president or his vice president was doomed in 1980 no matter what. Ford would not have “done better than Carter on every front.” Probably worse on what was in the president’s control during the years 1977-80, and couldn’t have stopped the tidal wave of that which was not. Dole would have lost much worse than that for this reason. He and Ford would have been extraordinarily unpopular, people would regret giving the GOP another term after Watergate and yes, Glenn or whatever other Democrat would be well-positioned to dominate in this election and the next.