Pick Your Own President Part One!

[hcallega]

Hai Guyz!

So I was thinking that one topic we haven't covered is picking who you all believe would win a Presidential election. While that has been covered, I believe that we can turn this into a TL. Basically whoever you guys vote for after a couple of days (i could use ideas for how many days I should leave it open, I'll start with it open since it's pretty obvious!) will win, followed by a post detailing that candidates term. I might also do primaries if the idea catches on. This idea addresses my biggest problem with TL's: unrealistic Presidents. While I'm fine with originality and creativity, I'm not so good with random people winning (actually I am if the plot is well developed, but I kind of like predictability in some cases). Either way, the first scenario is what-if JFK lived. I know this has been done before (actually currently) but this is an abbreviated version that lets you guys choose who wins.
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Scenario One: JFK Lives
Part One: 1964 Presidential Election

After almost being assassinated in Dallas in November, President John Kennedy would pave a more liberal record in his third and fourth years as President. Kennedy would introduce a Civil Rights Bill into congress that would ban discrimination in public facilities. This bill was a major step towards equality in civil rights for blacks, and was viewed by President Kennedy as "the first step towards ending racial inequality in America." However the bill drew strong criticism from Southerners and Conservatives, including many Democrats. On the economy, Kennedy continued his fairly Keynesian views with success. On foreign policy Kennedy continued his policy of supporting South Vietnam in the war against Communism with military advisers and economic aid. With South Vietnam beginning to loose the war, Kennedy gave American Air support via bombing military installations in the north and close air support in military operations. However Kennedy refused to deploy ground troops due to a fear of "engaging in an unwinnable quagmire against a determined local populace."

Going into the election of 1964 Kennedy had strong approval ratings and was viewed by most as the strong frontrunner. In the Democratic Primaries, Kennedy was challenged by George Wallace of Alabama who garnered decent support among working class whites and southerners but made little dent in Kennedy's support. At the convention Kennedy would drop LBJ from the ticket due to personal issues and the sense that Johnson had key disagreements on the way that Vietnam was being handled with Kennedy. JFK would choose personal friend and NC Governor Terry Sanford as his Vice-Presidential nominee. Sanford was a center-left Democrat and symbol of the "New South".

On the Republican side the fight was a three way battle between conservative Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, moderate Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, and Liberal Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York. Lodge won several early primaries as a write in candidate, but refused to officially run. Thereafter the race was between Rocky and Barry, with Goldwater narrowly prevailing at the convention. Goldwater would choose Pennsylvania Governor Bill Scranton (I give credit here to Deeds for Governor, it's just the perfect choice) as his VP nominee. Goldwater would be the anti-Kennedy, supporting limited government, opposition to civil rights legislation, and supporting putting troops on the ground in Vietnam.

Who do you think would win?

[Хahar 🤔]

Kennedy, easily.

[Deldem]

Kennedy wins with Johnson-like dominance.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Kennedy wins with Johnson-like dominance.

[Lahbas]

Not Johnson like dominance, but something similar. What we have to remeber is that Goldwater would not run as negative a campaign against Kennedy, who he was personnel friends with in the Senate. I my mind, Goldwater would carry largely only the Western states, while Scraton is only able to help Goldwater in New Jersey, will maybe bumping him up in Indiana and Virginia. I would normally say that the South would likely still move toward Goldwater, but this has been negated by Kennedy picking Sanford for VP.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Kennedy, easily.

[hcallega]

Since the race is so one sided I have decided to call the race in favor of Kennedy!

The race was tough but Kennedy was able to keep the focus on his successful record as President while portraying Goldwater as "a good man, but not the right man." Goldwater would fail to change the focus to the rising deficit and the changing tide in Vietnam, but would actually steal the formerly Democratic Solid South. However his failure to capture the Republican West or the crucial Midwest made it clear that he would come up short, far short.

Kennedy/Stanford (D) 467 Electoral Votes, 59% of the Popular Vote
Goldwater/Scranton (R) 71 Electoral Votes, 40% of the Popular Vote

[Lahbas]

Since the race is so one sided I have decided to call the race in favor of Kennedy!

The race was tough but Kennedy was able to keep the focus on his successful record as President while portraying Goldwater as "a good man, but not the right man." Goldwater would fail to change the focus to the rising deficit and the changing tide in Vietnam, but would actually steal the formerly Democratic Solid South. However his failure to capture the Republican West or the crucial Midwest made it clear that he would come up short, far short.

Kennedy/Stanford (D) 467 Electoral Votes, 59% of the Popular Vote
Goldwater/Scranton (R) 71 Electoral Votes, 40% of the Popular Vote

No way it is that much of a landslide. Not only that, but Sanford would keep the South in line.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Kennedy wins, albeit by a much smaller margin than Johnson did in real life.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

With Kennedy as President, at least in his first term, I don't see civil rights laws passed. So, no such a great blackash against Dems in the South

I believe only because of Johnson skills, the laws were passed

[hcallega]

I understand the complaints, but I think the assassination attempt would give Kennedy the capital to push for civil rights, while I believe that Johnson's skills were overated if you look at the final vote count (no one voted for it in the Senate who wouldn't have anyway).