1984: Ted Kennedy

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Let's say Ted Kennedy ran for the 1984 Democratic nomination against Walter Mondale, John Glenn, Jesse Jackson, Gary Hart and Fritz Hollings and won! Senator Kennedy selects Gary Hart as his running mate. Though a Kennedy/Hart ticket would loose against the GOP ticket of Reagan/Bush, how would they realistically go? Discuss with maps.

[Lincoln Republican]

Kennedy does marginally better than does Mondale, however, Reagan still wins over 400 EV.

Kennedy takes traditionally strong Democratic states, including all of lower New England, his home base.

The south is completely out of reach for Kennedy and Hart.

Kennedy, even with Hart on the ticket, fails to take Hart's home state of Colorado.

Even in 1984, Kennedy is seen as an old line, tax and spend, northeastern liberal.

Reagan/Bush                 419
Kennedy/Hart                 119

[johnpressman]

Nah, Chappiquiddick put Teddy out of the Presidential sweepstakes for good.  Similar to Rocky's divorce and re-marrige in 1962 & 1963.  A follow up question might be: If Chappiquiddick had not happened, could Teddy have been elected President and when?  He was running for the 1972 nomination when the incident happened.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Nah, Chappiquiddick put Teddy out of the Presidential sweepstakes for good.  Similar to Rocky's divorce and re-marrige in 1962 & 1963.  A follow up question might be: If Chappiquiddick had not happened, could Teddy have been elected President and when?  He was running for the 1972 nomination when the incident happened.

What?

It happened in 1969.

If Chappaquiddick had NOT happened he could've won the Dem nomination whenever he wanted - probably '76.

[WalterMitty]

kennedy would be beaten badly.

BUT

what would have happened if the economy never recovered from the 1982-83 recession and unemployment was still at 10% in 1984?

[johnpressman]

I know the incident happened in 1969.  Ted's people were already moving behind the scenes for the 1972 nomination.  My question(s) are; would he have won the 1972 nomination had it not have occurred, and would he have beaten Nixon, and lastly, would he have run subsequently and won, and when?

I say he would have easily won the 1972 nomination in that crowded field but would have lost to Nixon, then another try and win in 1976 as he defeats Ford  easily.

[DownWithTheLeft]

If by better people mean just as bad, then yea