I think the pro-incumbent effect due to the 9/11 attacks in the 2002 midterms might have been flipped, helping Republicans. I think that a lot of people would have lost out, like Kathleen Townsend, Jeanne Shaheen, maybe Brad Henry. There's no way Tom Strickland would won, and therefore make it far enough to be a plausible Presidential contender, let alone Dean's Vice President.
Is it wrong that I always seem to forget who Tom Strickland is? I always confuse him with my former Governor, Ted Strickland. (And potentially my next Senator. Grr.) Tom's just SUCH a non-entity in politics now. I mean, say what you like about Vice Presidents Lieberman or Dole, they were at least relatively active in the political sphere! Tom showed up at a rally to help Senator Udall and Governor Hickenlooper in November 2014, and I saw the picture, and I asked myself: who's that other guy on stage? I mean, say what you will about "Oops" Perry, but he would have been a much better VP than Strickland. Perry killed at the VP Debate in 2012. (Until he had the "Oops" moment and killed any and all credibility he had. Can't win 'em all.)
