2008: John Kerry vs Mike Huckabee if Kerry won in 2004

[Terlylane]

If Kerry won in 2004, how would he have done against Huckabee in 2008?

[Alben Barkley]

2008 would have always been a tough year for the incumbent party assuming the economy went the way it did. That said, Huckabee was one of the weaker candidates the GOP could have put up so it probably would have been close.

[darklordoftech]

It would be very easy for the Kerry campaign to paint Huckabee as a theocrat.

[Mail-order President]

The incumbent party is at an extreme disadvantage in 2008 with the great recession. Kerry may try to paint Huckabee as extreme, but swing voters will vote with their wallet. A very weak win for Huckabee considering the circumstances though.


President John Kerry (D-MA)/Vice President Joe Lieberman (D-CT) - 47.9% 247 EV
Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR)/Fmr. Governor Tommy Thompson (R-WI) - 49.0% 291 EV

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The incumbent party is at an extreme disadvantage in 2008 with the great recession. Kerry may try to paint Huckabee as extreme, but swing voters will vote with their wallet. A very weak win for Huckabee considering the circumstances though.


President John Kerry (D-MA)/Vice President Joe Lieberman (D-CT) - 47.9% 247 EV
Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR)/Fmr. Governor Tommy Thompson (R-WI) - 49.0% 291 EV

This sort of outcome would be good for Dems in the long-run. Huck isn't even guaranteed to have a trifecta and even if he has one, 2010 should be an utter Dem landslide.

[Mail-order President]

The incumbent party is at an extreme disadvantage in 2008 with the great recession. Kerry may try to paint Huckabee as extreme, but swing voters will vote with their wallet. A very weak win for Huckabee considering the circumstances though.


President John Kerry (D-MA)/Vice President Joe Lieberman (D-CT) - 47.9% 247 EV
Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR)/Fmr. Governor Tommy Thompson (R-WI) - 49.0% 291 EV

This sort of outcome would be good for Dems in the long-run. Huck isn't even guaranteed to have a trifecta and even if he has one, 2010 should be an utter Dem landslide.

Agreed. The 2010 senate map would've been brutal for the GOP.

[Chips]

The incumbent party is at an extreme disadvantage in 2008 with the great recession. Kerry may try to paint Huckabee as extreme, but swing voters will vote with their wallet. A very weak win for Huckabee considering the circumstances though.


President John Kerry (D-MA)/Vice President Joe Lieberman (D-CT) - 47.9% 247 EV
Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR)/Fmr. Governor Tommy Thompson (R-WI) - 49.0% 291 EV

Seems like a plausible map.