A Third Choice - An Alternate History (1996)

[justW353]

I'm going to be starting a new timeline...Here's a short synopsis...

After Ross Perot's success in 1992, the "third party" has become a viable option for the Presidency.  A new party is soon formed by a coalition of national leaders.  They called it the Populist or People's Party (P).  It was founded on a principle; to work together as Americans to solve the problems that affect the everyday citizen.

Among the members are Former Governor Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts (party founder and chairman), Senator John McCain of Arizona, Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Businessman Ross Perot of Texas, Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia, Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Governor Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and many others.  However, perhaps the most recognizable figure of the movement was Former General Colin Powell, who Tsongas had convinced to join the party.  

The Rise of the Populist Party - Coming Up

Comments?

[yougo1000]

Interesting

[justW353]

The Populist Party was formally founded on March 1, 1993.  The main concern of it's leaders quickly became the 1994 midterm elections.  With strong support, the Populists aimed to show they were a legitimate challenge to the traditional two party system.

With the support of various constituencies and with a core of moderate politicians from various political spectrums, the Populist Party made major inroads into Congress in 1994.

104th United States Congress

Alabama

    * Howell Heflin (D)
    * Richard Shelby (R)

Alaska

    * Ted Stevens (R)
    * Frank H. Murkowski (R)

Arizona

    * John McCain (P)
    * Jon Kyl (R)

Arkansas

    * Dale Bumpers (D)
    * David Pryor (P)

California

    * Dianne Feinstein (D)
    * Barbara Boxer (D)

Colorado

    * Hank Brown (R)
    * Ben Nighthorse Campbell (P)

Connecticut

    * Christopher J. Dodd (D)
    * Joseph I. Lieberman (P)

Delaware

    * William V. Roth, Jr. (R)
    * Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D)

Florida

    * Bob Graham (D)
    * Connie Mack (R)

Georgia

    * Sam Nunn (P)
    * Paul Coverdell (R)

Hawaii

    * Daniel K. Inouye (D)
    * Daniel K. Akaka (D)

Idaho

    * Larry Craig (R)
    * Dirk Kempthorne (R)

Illinois

    * Paul Simon (D)
    * Carol Moseley-Braun (D)

Indiana

    * Dick Lugar (R)
    * Dan Coats (R)

Iowa

    * Chuck Grassley (R)
    * Tom Harkin (D)

Kansas

    * Bob Dole (R)
    * Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R)

Kentucky

    * Wendell H. Ford (D)
    * Mitch McConnell (R)

Louisiana

    * J. Bennett Johnston (D)
    * John B. Breaux (D)

Maine

    * William S. Cohen (R)
    * Olympia Snowe (P)

Maryland

    * Paul S. Sarbanes (D)
    * Barbara A. Mikulski (D)

Massachusetts

    * Edward M. Kennedy (D)
    * John Kerry (D)

Michigan

    * Carl Levin (D)
    * Bob Carr (D)

Minnesota

    * Paul D. Wellstone (D)
    * Rod Grams (R)

Mississippi

    * Thad Cochran (R)
    * Trent Lott (R)

Missouri

    * Kit Bond (R)
    * John Ashcroft (R)

   
Montana

    * Max Baucus (D)
    * Conrad Burns (R)

Nebraska

    * Jim Exon (D)
    * J. Robert Kerrey (D)

Nevada

    * Harry Reid (D)
    * Richard H. Bryan (D)

New Hampshire

    * Bob Smith (R)
    * Judd Gregg (R)

New Jersey

    * Bill Bradley (D)
    * Frank R. Lautenberg (D)

New Mexico

    * Pete Domenici (R)
    * Jeff Bingaman (D)

New York

    * Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D)
    * Al D'Amato (R)

North Carolina

    * Jesse Helms (R)
    * Lauch Faircloth (R)

North Dakota

    * Kent Conrad (D)
    * Byron Dorgan (D)

Ohio

    * John Glenn (D)
    * Mike DeWine (R)

Oklahoma

    * Don Nickles (R)
    * James Inhofe (R)

Oregon

    * Mark O. Hatfield (R)
    * Bob Packwood (R)

Pennsylvania

    * Arlen Specter (P)
    * Rick Santorum (R)

Rhode Island

    * Claiborne Pell (D)
    * John H. Chafee (R)

South Carolina

    * Strom Thurmond (R)
    * Ernest F. Hollings (D)

South Dakota

    * Larry Pressler (R)
    * Thomas A. Daschle (D)

Tennessee

    * Fred Thompson (R)
    * Jim Sasser (D)

Texas

    * Phil Gramm (R)
    * Kay Bailey Hutchison (P)

Utah

    * Orrin G. Hatch (R)
    * Robert F. Bennett (R)

Vermont

    * Patrick Leahy (D)
    * Jan Backus (D)

Virginia

    * John W. Warner (R)
    * Charles S. Robb (D)

Washington

    * Slade Gorton (R)
    * Patty Murray (D)

West Virginia

    * Robert C. Byrd (D)
    * John D. Rockefeller IV (D)

Wisconsin

    * Herb Kohl (D)
    * Russ Feingold (D)

Wyoming

    * Craig Thomas (R)
    * Alan K. Simpson (R)

46 Democrats
46 Republicans
8 Populists

The Democratic Party continued control of the Senate in 1994.  The Populists, while winning on their own right, also acted as spoilers for Republican candidates.  With a Democratic President, the Democrats held the Senate.

House:

Democrats:  201
Republicans:  197
Populists:  36

[Barnes]

Fascinating!

[21st Century Independent]

Nice work. Very creative. I see a Populist John McCain perhaps as President.

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

Fascinating!

[RosettaStoned]

Fascinating!

[justW353]

After making waves in the 1994 midterm elections, the Populist Party had proved it was a legitimate threat to the traditional two party system. 

Most notably, the Populists did not caucus with any other Party.  They founded their own caucus.  At every opportunity, their goal was to show they were independent from any affiliations with the other parties. 

However, they were always open to Tri-Partisanship.  Shortly after they took office, they worked with Republican leaders to cut taxes for individuals and small businesses, after ensuring that corporations would not be included in the deal. 

The leader of the party was widely seen as Senator John McCain of Arizona in the Senate.  Another prominent face of the party was General Colin Powell.  Powell, while pledging his support to the party, insisted he had no political ambitions.

On September 1, a priority was made to set and pass a budget.  Republican members failed to cooperate with the Democratic leadership.  Ultimately, a budget was passed on September 10 by the House of Representatives, largely due to Populist support.  Fourteen days later, on September 24, with Populist John McCain largely leading the movement, the Senate passed the budget, preventing a crisis.  On November 1, 1995, with the support of the Populists, the House overwhelmingly voted to ban partial-birth abortions.

Next:  1996 Presidential Primaries

[justW353]

1996 Presidential Primaries

By 1996, the Progressive Party had over ten million members, the third largest party in the nation.  With donations approaching the same levels as the Democratic or Republican parties, it was decided that a primary season would be held for the Populist Party to chose its nominee.  The primaries would be open to all Americans and would be held on the same days as the Democratic and GOP primaries.

Democratic Candidates:

President Bill Clinton of Arkansas
Various Minor and Perennial Candidates

Republican Candidates:

Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas
Former Governor Lamar Alexander of Tennessee
Diplomat Alan Keyes of Maryland
Senator Dick Lugar of Indiana
Senator Phil Gramm of Texas
Representative Bob Dorman of California
Governor Pete Wilson of California

Populist Candidates:

Senator John McCain of Arizona
Governor Ben Nelson of Nebraska
Businessman Steve Forbes of New York
Former Presidential Advisor Pat Buchanan of Virginia
Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania

Primary/Caucus Schedule

February 12:  Iowa Caucus
February 20:  New Hampshire Primary    
February 24:  Delaware (primary)
February 27:  Arizona (primary)
February 27:  North Dakota (primary)
February 27:  South Dakota (primary)    
March 2:  South Carolina (primary)
March 3:  Puerto Rico (primary)
March 5:  Colorado (primary)
March 5:  Connecticut (primary)
March 5:  Georgia (primary)
March 5:  Maine (primary)
March 5:  Maryland (primary)
March 5:  Massachusetts (primary)
March 5:  Rhode Island (primary)
March 5:  Vermont (primary)
March 7:  New York (primary)
March 12:  Florida (primary)    
March 12:  Louisiana (primary)
March 12:  Mississippi (primary)
March 12:  Oklahoma (primary)
March 12:  Oregon (primary)
March 12:  Tennessee (primary)
March 12:  Texas (primary)
March 19:  Illinois (primary)
March 19:  Michigan (primary)    
March 19:  Ohio (primary)
March 19:  Wisconsin (primary)
March 26:  California (primary)
March 26:  Nevada (primary)
March 26:  Washington (primary)
April 23:  Pennsylvania (primary)
May 7:  Washington D.C. (primary)    
May 7:  Indiana (primary)    
May 7:  North Carolina (primary)
May 14:  Nebraska (primary)
May 14:  West Virginia (primary)
May 21:  Arkansas (primary)
May 28:  Idaho (primary)
June 4:  Alabama (primary)
June 4:  Montana (primary)
June 4:  New Jersey (primary)
June 4:  New Mexico (primary)

I'll be going by month.

[justW353]

Bump?

[justW353]

Bump?

Comments?

[justW353]

No one wants me to continue this?

[Mechaman]

No one wants me to continue this?

Please proceed.
It's interesting, just too lazy to make comment at moment.

[Barnes]

No one wants me to continue this?

Please proceed.
It's interesting, just too lazy to make comment at moment.

[Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)]

No one wants me to continue this?

Please proceed.
It's interesting, just too lazy to make comment at moment.

[justW353]

Republican Presidential Primaries - February 1996

Iowa Caucus

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  31%
Dick Lugar:  23%
Lamar Alexander:  16%
Pete Wilson:  12%
Phil Gramm:  11%
Alan Keyes:  7%
Bob Dornan:  0%

New Hampshire Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  30%
Dick Lugar:  27%
Lamar Alexander:  20%
Pete Wilson:  10%
Phil Gramm:  8%
Alan Keyes:  5%

Delaware Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  29%
Dick Lugar:  26%
Lamar Alexander:  21%
Pete Wilson:  11%
Phil Gramm:  7%
Alan Keyes:  6%

Arizona Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  30%
Dick Lugar:  24%
Lamar Alexander:  17%
Pete Wilson:  13%
Phil Gramm:  11%
Alan Keyes:  5%

North Dakota Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  36%
Dick Lugar:  23%
Lamar Alexander:  18%
Pete Wilson:  14%
Phil Gramm:  7%
Alan Keyes:  2%

South Dakota Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  38%
Dick Lugar:  25%
Lamar Alexander:  18%
Pete Wilson:  12%
Phil Gramm:  5%
Alan Keyes:  2%

Primary Results Map

Bob Dole - Dark Blue
Dick Lugar - Red
Lamar Alexander - Maroon
Pete Wilson - Dark Green
Phil Gramm - Lime Green
Alan Keyes - Light Blue
Bob Dornan - Pink

[justW353]

Democratic Presidential Primaries - February 1996

President Bill Clinton won all February primaries with more than 90% of the vote in each.

[justW353]

Populist Presidential Primaries - February 1996

Iowa Caucus

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  28%
Ben Nelson:  21%
Pat Buchanan:  19%
Steve Forbes:  17%
Arlen Specter:  15%

New Hampshire Primary

Political Commentator Pat Buchanan of Virginia

Pat Buchanan:  27%
John McCain:  26%
Steve Forbes:  21%
Ben Nelson:  14%
Arlen Specter:  12%

Delaware Primary

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  28%
Pat Buchanan:  26%
Steve Forbes:  20%
Ben Nelson:  10%
Arlen Specter:  16%

Arizona Primary

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  61%
Pat Buchanan:  16%
Steve Forbes:  14%
Arlen Specter:  4%
Ben Nelson:  3%

North Dakota Primary

Political Commentator Pat Buchanan of Virginia

Pat Buchanan:  28%
John McCain:  23%
Steve Forbes:  20%
Arlen Specter:  15%
Ben Nelson:  14%

South Dakota Primary

Political Commentator Pat Buchanan of Virginia

Pat Buchanan:  26%
John McCain:  24%
Steve Forbes:  22%
Arlen Specter:  17%
Ben Nelson:  11%

Primary Results Map

John McCain - Dark Blue
Pat Buchanan - Lime Green
Steve Forbes - Dark Green
Arlen Specter - Red
Ben Nelson - Light Blue

[Barnes]

McCain! (Or Specter, although it doesn't look like he's gaining much support)

[justW353]

Republican Presidential Primaries - March 1996 (Pre-Super Tuesday)

South Carolina Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  42%
Dick Lugar:  23%
Lamar Alexander:  14%
Pete Wilson:  14%
Phil Gramm:  8%
Alan Keyes:  3%

Colorado Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  38%
Dick Lugar:  25%
Lamar Alexander:  16%
Pete Wilson:  13%
Phil Gramm:  6%
Alan Keyes:  2%

Connecticut Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  28%
Dick Lugar:  24%
Lamar Alexander:  22%
Pete Wilson:  18%
Phil Gramm:  5%
Alan Keyes:  3%

Georgia Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  46%
Dick Lugar:  18%
Lamar Alexander:  14%
Pete Wilson:  12%
Phil Gramm:  8%
Alan Keyes:  2%

Maine Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  40%
Dick Lugar:  23%
Lamar Alexander:  18%
Pete Wilson:  14%
Phil Gramm:  3%
Alan Keyes:  2%

Maryland Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  42%
Dick Lugar:  27%
Lamar Alexander:  15%
Pete Wilson:  10%
Phil Gramm:  4%
Alan Keyes:  2%

Massachusetts Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  46%
Dick Lugar:  26%
Lamar Alexander:  14%
Pete Wilson:  9%
Phil Gramm:  3%
Alan Keyes:  2%

Rhode Island Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  49%
Dick Lugar:  26%
Lamar Alexander:  12%
Pete Wilson:  9%
Phil Gramm:  3%
Alan Keyes:  1%

Vermont Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  41%
Dick Lugar:  39%
Lamar Alexander:  10%
Pete Wilson:  7%
Phil Gramm:  2%
Alan Keyes:  1%

New York Primary

Senator Bob Dole of Kansas

Bob Dole:  38%
Dick Lugar:  30%
Lamar Alexander:  14%
Pete Wilson:  12%
Alan Keyes:  3%
Phil Gramm:  2%

Primary Results Map

Bob Dole - Dark Blue
Dick Lugar - Red
Lamar Alexander - Maroon
Pete Wilson - Dark Green
Phil Gramm - Lime Green
Alan Keyes - Light Blue
Bob Dornan - Pink

[/quote]

[justW353]

Democratic Presidential Primaries - March 1996  (Pre-Super Tuesday)

President Bill Clinton won all February primaries with more than 90% of the vote in each.
[/quote]

[justW353]

Populist Presidential Primaries - March 1996  (Pre-Super Tuesday)

South Carolina

Political Commentator Pat Buchanan of Virginia

Pat Buchanan:  26%
John McCain:  22%
Ben Nelson:  20%
Steve Forbes:  18%
Arlen Specter:  14%

Colorado Primary

Publisher Steve Forbes of New York

Steve Forbes:  26%
John McCain:  24%
Pat Buchanan:  20%
Arlen Specter:  16%
Ben Nelson:  14%

Connecticut Primary

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  30%
Steve Forbes:  26%
Pat Buchanan:  20%
Arlen Specter:  14%
Ben Nelson:  10%

Georgia Primary

Political Commentator Pat Buchanan of Virginia

Pat Buchanan:  32%
John McCain:  28%
Steve Forbes:  16%
Arlen Specter:  8%
Ben Nelson:  4%

Maine Primary

Political Commentator Pat Buchanan of Virginia

Pat Buchanan:  25%
John McCain:  24%
Steve Forbes:  23%
Arlen Specter:  18%
Ben Nelson:  10%

Maryland Primary

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  27%
Pat Buchanan:  23%
Steve Forbes:  21%
Arlen Specter:  19%
Ben Nelson:  10%

Massachusetts Primary

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  27%
Steve Forbes:  24%
Pat Buchanan:  21%
Arlen Specter:  20%
Ben Nelson:  8%

Rhode Island Primary

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  25%
Pat Buchanan:  24%
Steve Forbes:  22%
Arlen Specter:  20%
Ben Nelson:  8%

Vermont Primary

Political Commentator Pat Buchanan of Virginia

Pat Buchanan:  26%
John McCain:  24%
Steve Forbes:  22%
Arlen Specter:  19%
Ben Nelson:  8%

New York Primary

Senator John McCain of Arizona

John McCain:  29%
Steve Forbes:  28%
Pat Buchanan:  20%
Arlen Specter:  17%
Ben Nelson:  6%

Primary Results Map

John McCain - Dark Blue
Pat Buchanan - Lime Green
Steve Forbes - Dark Green
Arlen Specter - Red
Ben Nelson - Light Blue

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

If Buchanan doesn't win, then Dole in 96!

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I would imagine Sen. Shelby as a member of the Populist Party. I don't see why Steve Forbes would be.

[justW353]

I would imagine Sen. Shelby as a member of the Populist Party. I don't see why Steve Forbes would be.

Well the populist party isn't really socially conservative like Forbes, but mainly he believed it would be much easier to win the nomination for the Populists.

As for Shelby, stay tuned.