Mondale/Finch vs. Reagan/Laxalt vs. Anderson/Lucey(1980)

[Historico]

Ok...Let's say on July 15th 1979 during his now Infamous "Malaise" speech, Jimmy pulls a LBJ and declares his intention to not seek his party's nomination for President in 1980. This throws the field for President wide open for the Democrats. Vice President Mondale fights off challenges from Governor Hugh Carey of New York, Governor Jerry Brown of California, Senator William Proxmire of Winsconsin and Governor Cliff Finch of Mississippi. Ted Kennedy suprisngly does not run for the nomination. Mondale is barely able to piece together enough delegates to win the nomination and in a suprise move selects the populist Governor Cliff Finch of Mississippi as his running mate.

The Republican race sees stronger competition between Reagan and Bush, prompting Ronnie to not pick the fomer CIA Director. Instead he picks he close friend, Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada. Independent Canidate John B. Anderson recieves alot of support from Moderate Democrats and Republicans afraid of Mondale and Reagan's seemingly staunch Liberalism and Conservatisim. Therefore he maintains his around 30% level and is even ahead in some states.

There is only one sole debate between the three candidates, which is thought to have been rather lackluster as there is no "There you go again" or "Are you better off than you were four years ago". So who wins this cool election scenario? Can Anderson win any electoral votes? Does Mondale pick up anything in the South with Finch on the ticket?  Could Carter without the burden of running a national campaign, be able to successfully solve the Hostage Crisis earlier than in OTL? What effects that might it have on the race? How do events shape the '84 election? Please Discuss

[Landslide Lyndon]

Reagan/Laxalt  388
Mondale/Finch  150

[bhouston79]

I actually don't see things playing out any better for the Democrats.  In fact, with Mondale at the head of the ticket, I would be willing to bet that the Democrats fare worse than they did in real life.  Reagan would have still used the "Are you better off than you were four years ago" since Mondale was after all the sitting Vice President.  Here's my prediction:

[Historico]

Thanks for the replies px and bh...Here is how I think it would play out...It would be an extremley close election esp, with Anderson being able to show himself as the Northeastern Centrist. Not picking a Souther proves to harm Ronnie than it does help him, but Mondale still wont be able to pull it away due to his connenction to the Carter adminstration. I perdict it goes to the House.

Ronald W. Reagan/Paul Laxalt: 266 electoral votes
Walter Mondale/Cliff Finch: 219 electoral votes
John B. Anderson/Patrick Lucey: 53 electoral votes

It goes to the House, and Mondale although coming in second...becomes the 40th President of the United States. Fritz is in the White House when the economy finally turns around and wins the '84 election in a landslide lol.

[Kaine for Senate '18]