Whoever makes it easier for a reverse IRL 1980 that gives the landslide to Frank Church/Jimmy Carter
NOTE: What, I can wish can't I?
Why would Church's runningmate be Carter? The only vote for VP from a Church supporter was for a Church/Metzenbaum ticket and Carter is in a different party than Church (and one that just nominated LaRouche of all people). It's not like Church would realistically need Carter's support (or any sort of unity ticket) to win over non-LaRouchies from the WP. Also can we please not do strategic voting? It just makes the elections less interesting. I'm not even voting in this primary for that very reason
He wouldn't (hence "
I can wish can't I?"):
But keep in mind:
The DA formed on an ideological fallout in the first place, and easily could've not chosen Morse the first time around as Running Mate.
Yes he's not needed for non-LaRocuhie support, but why stop there? The DA have NEVER won the South, and sans 1972 lefty-split that allowed Taft a landslide, the AU have been losing the Northeast (and even then McCarthy stole votes from the otherwise solidly Muskie rural areas, and otherwise solidly Kennedy urban areas).
1976 before the final hour had Sanford holding up in the Northeast and dominating in the South, and in the end, he still had the South, barely lost Pennsylvania to Bayh, and Vermont to Taft, and he kept Maine.
Carter could pretty much do that for the DA, that Metzenbaum couldn't.
WHY would either party deliberately rule out a chance to remain competitive in a weak region and fortify the strong regions?
...But I know that won't happen.