1980: Kennedy/Brown v. Reagan/Bush

[Iosif is a COTHO]

Let's say Ted Kennedy won the Dem nomination in 1980. Would the general election result have been any different? Would it have been even worse for the Dems, like a 1984-style blowout?

[Iosif is a COTHO]

Oops, just saw a 1976 Kennedy Reagan matchup down below. Oh well, I'm sure the circumstances in '80 were..um... very different

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Firstly welcome to the forum Mango. Glad to see some more Aussies on here .

Kennedy would have gotten smashed by Reagan. Though he would have done slightly better than Jimmy Carter. I doubt he would have selected the liberal Governor of California Jerry Brown as his running mate though. 1980 was a Republican year, even if Jesus ran as a Democrat he would lose.

[CPT MikeyMike]

You will not see that much of a difference.

The South is more solid for Reagan (picks up Georgia) while Kennedy picks up NY and MA. Jerry Brown doesn't make any impact on CA.

Reagan: 446
Kennedy: 92

[Kaine for Senate '18]

You will not see that much of a difference.

The South is more solid for Reagan (picks up Georgia) while Kennedy picks up NY and MA. Jerry Brown doesn't make any impact on CA.

Reagan: 446
Kennedy: 92

I would agree with that, although I might give Kennedy a little more in New England.  Brown is a terrible choice for Kennedy; he'd be better off with a Southern moderate.