Humphrey/Carter vs. Ford/Dole 1976

[gorkay]

Here's another one while I'm at it:

It was widely speculated in 1976 that Hubert Humphrey would enter the race for the Democratic presidential nomination at some point, probably later in the race after some of the lesser candidates had dropped out. It was suspected, though never proven, that Frank Church and Gerry Brown actually served as stalking horses for Humphrey with their own late candidacies. In the end, Humphrey declined to run-- not because he thought his chances were hopeless, but because he had learned that he was suffering from terminal cancer.

My supposition is that Humphrey never got cancer (or that it wasn't detected at that time). Everything plays out as it actually did, with the Church and Brown candidacies winning many of the late primaries, except that at the crucial moment, Humphrey announces that he is a candidate. Although Jimmy Carter is far in the lead, he hasn't wrapped up the nomination; there are still a large number of uncommitted delegates, in addition to the delegates pledged to Church, Brown, Udall, and other candidates, and if HHH can bag a large number of them, he has a shot. Carter fights on, but the other candidates ultimately throw their support to Humphrey, and he wins the nomination. Then, in a move reminiscent of JFK's pick of LBJ as his running mate in 1960, Humphrey picks his chief rival, Carter, for vice-president. In the interests of party unity, Carter accepts.

The Republican side of it plays out as it did in RL, with Ford holding off Reagan for the presidential nomination and choosing Dole as his running mate.

What then happens in the general election?

[Lincoln Republican]

Humphrey loses support in the south, in spite of the fact that Carter is on the ticket, however, Humphrey picks up strength in the north and on the west coast to realize his life long ambition of beoming President of the United States.

Humhrey/Carter               280
Ford/Dole                         258

[Kaine for Senate '18]

HHH wins, 276-262:

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Actually many pundits, most notable James Reston, predicted Humphrey v. Ford race

Due to his political statute, as well as anti-Republican sentiments following Watergate Humphrey would eaisly defeat Ford.

President Humphrey died in office, as in OTL, in January 1978 and V.P. Carter assume the office and everything thereafter going the same way.