2004: Al Gore vs. Colin Powell, with a twist

[Bo]

Gore narrowly defeats Bush Jr. in 2000. The economy is very sluggish between 2001 and 2003 and when the eocnomy starts really recovering in 2004 (in terms of jobs), then fuel prices stat to go up. 9/11 does not occur since Gore ordered all airports to increase security at their airports in August 2001, and thus the 9/11 plotters were caught before they could capture the planes. There are no terrorist attacks in the U.S. after 9/11 as well. The Democrats renominate Gore, while the Republicans nominate Colin Powell. Powell attacks Gore for high fuel prices, low job creation, and his sluggish economic record, while Gore emphasizes the economic recovery and the rise in housing prices that occured under his watch (due to the housing bubble). You pick the VPs. Everything else stays the same. How would this election turn out? Discuss, with maps.

[Senator Libertas]

329-209

[Bo]

329-209

Explanation, please?

[perdedor]

Gore - 47% - 221 EVs
Powell - 52% - 317 EVs
Other - 1%

By this point, there would be strong Democratic fatigue and all Gore would have to run on is the fact that his Presidency seems to have been most uneventful.

[Bo]

Powell/Alexander-311 EV
Gore/Lieberman-227 EV

[JerryBrown2010]

Racism would become a factor.

[Bo]

Racism would become a factor.

It wasn't a large one for Obama in 2008.

[Senator Libertas]

Racism would become a factor.

It wasn't a large one for Obama in 2008.

Uh, it would be in the states a Republican has to win.

[SirNick]

Racism would become a factor.

It wasn't a large one for Obama in 2008.

Uh, it would be in the states a Republican has to win.

I don't think it would be too significant. All the states in 2008 voted more democratic than they had in previous elections with a black man as the head of the ticket (besides two...I think Louisiana and Utah but definitely Louisiana).

On top of that Obama won a larger margin of the white vote than any other Democrat since Carter.

I think racism towards Powell would be negligible especially because he was popular.

[Senator Libertas]

Racism would become a factor.

It wasn't a large one for Obama in 2008.

Uh, it would be in the states a Republican has to win.

I don't think it would be too significant. All the states in 2008 voted more democratic than they had in previous elections with a black man as the head of the ticket (besides two...I think Louisiana and Utah but definitely Louisiana).

On top of that Obama won a larger margin of the white vote than any other Democrat since Carter.

I think racism towards Powell would be negligible especially because he was popular.

States like Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Louisiana aren't going to vote for a moderate Republican negro from New York against a native son. Without 9/11, Powell's military background wouldn't even help him all that much in 2004.