1984: Walter Mondale vs Howard Baker

[JabeShepherd]

For this scenario, Jimmy Carter wins in 1980 Reagan and Bush are discredited. Carter's VP, Mondale wins the Democratic nomination, while Howard Baker is the GOP nominee.

Who wins?

[Sir Mohamed]

Hard to see the presidency not flipping after 8 years. Mandale also wasn't an exciting candidate and a pivot back to the center would help the GOP then. Baker picks a conservative VP for ticket balance.



✓ Senator Howard Baker (R-TN)/Representative Jack Kemp (R-NY): 342 EVs.; 51.4%
Vice President Walter Mondale (D-MN)/Representative Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY): 196 EVs.; 45.8%

[dw93]

I too think Baker would win. Carter would be the one presiding over the double dip recession of '81-'82 and would likely lose at least one chamber of Congress in 1982 as a result, and I doubt he'd be able to capitalize on the post 82 recovery to the extent that Reagan did. Baker would ride an economic boom to re election in 1988, only for a Democrat to beat Kemp in 1992.

[Fuzzy Bear]

The country was (A) more conservative in 1984, (B) more open to a moderate Republican in 1984 and (C) never fond of Walter Mondale, who was a terrible campaigner, period.