Say Romney wins in 2012 with this map:
Closest state is CO, which Romney just barely wins along with OH, VA, and FL.
However, Democrats hold the Senate, which prevents Romney from getting much done legislatively. To make things worse for him, 2014 is a blue wave year, with Democrats taking back the House, holding Senate seats in states like CO, IA, and NC, and even defeating Mitch McConnell in KY.
Going into the 2016 election, Romney’s personal popularity is lukewarm at best. He is perceived as a dull, “do nothing” president and a vulnerable incumbent. As in our timeline, Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, and early polls show her with a modest lead over Romney nationally and in most swing states. What happens? And do you think this timeline would actually be better than the real one in any case?
