1980: John B. Anderson (R) vs. Edward M. Kennedy (D)

[Robespierre's Jaw]

How would the 1980 Presidential Election turn out if these were the tickets nominated?

Republican

President: Congressman, John B. Anderson from Illinois
Vice President: Senator, Howard Baker of Tennessee


Democratic

President: Senator, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts
Vice President: Governor, Jim Hunt of North Carolina

Discuss with maps.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Kennedy wins 323-215

[gorkay]

I can't imagine the circumstances under which this would have happened. Anderson's independent candidacy was largely the work of anti-Carter Democrats, all of whom had supported Kennedy in the primaries, and was largely a piece of spite work aimed at ensuring Carter's defeat. If Anderson had somehow captured the Republican nomination, it's almost a sure thing that there would have been some sort of conservative third-party candidacy. And it would have had a real shot at winning, especially if Ronald Reagan were at the head of the ticket, because the country was going strongly to the right in 1980 and Anderson and Kennedy might have split the liberal-to-moderate vote right down the middle.