Collaborative Presidential Elections - New

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I'm thinking of starting a scenario where Taft bowed out in 1912 and Roosevelt was able to win a third term. Has that been played out in one of these collaborative threads yet?

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2000

Vice President Lamar Alexander (R-TE)/Senator John McCain (R-AZ) - 365 Electoral Votes, 51.45% of the Popular Vote
Senator Albert Gore Jr. (D-TN)/Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) - 156 Electoral Votes, 34.21% of the popular vote
Former Senator Ralph Nader (I-CN)/Representative Bernie Sanders (I-VT) - 17 electoral votes, 14.26% of the popular vote

A bitter primary battle between former Vice Presidential nominee Ralph Nader and Senator Al Gore drags on for the entire primary season, with the moderate Gore emerging victorious. Former Senator Nader launches a strong third-party bid, openly urging liberal Democrats not to support the nominee.

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2012

President Jon Huntsman (R-UT)/Vice President Charlie Crist (R-FL) - 270 Electoral Votes, 49.9% of the popular vote
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)/Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO) - 268 Electoral Votes, 49.6% of the popular vote

President Huntsman is well-liked throughout his term, but struggles under a bad economy, giving him a tough battle for re-election. The closest election in memory comes down to a recount in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, with President Huntsman eking out an 826-vote victory in the district, and keeping the election from going to the Democratic-controlled House.

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We should start a new one.

Yeah, this takes us to the current day.

No idea for the next divergence point, so I'll let someone else take it.

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The nation was stunned by the sudden death of President Winthrop Rockefeller only a month after taking office, especially once it was revealed that he had been battling cancer for most of the campaign. His Vice President, Paul Laxalt, took office amid no small amount of controversy over the late President's decision to keep his condition from the American public. However, President Laxalt soon proved himself to be an able leader, pushing a center-right agenda and effectively ending American troops' involvement in Vietnam, instead transitioning to a support role. Choosing his old friend Governor Ronald Reagan of California as Vice President, he was easily able to fend off a challenge from liberal Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, who was hurt by the continued presence of the American Independent party.

President Paul Laxalt (R-NV)/Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA) - 451 Electoral Votes, 52.3% of the popular vote.
Governor Jimmy Carter (D-GA)/Senator Walter Mondale (D-MN) - 63 Electoral Votes, 41.8% of the popular vote
Former Governor Lester Maddox (AI-GA)/Congressman John G. Schmitz (AI-CA) 24 electoral votes, 5.9% of the popular vote

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1988

President Brown's second term was rockier than his first, with his liberal policies energizing the right against him. However, he remained very popular among his own party and independents. Vice President Bentsen chose not to seek the Presidency in 1988, and the nomination went to popular Governor Mario Cuomo of New York, a liberal who unabashedly supported President Brown and vowed to build on his reforms, choosing moderate Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton as his running mate. A prolonged Republican primary ended with a surprise. Former VP candidate Warren Rudman, given up for hopeless early in the primaries, managed to energize the Republican center and claim victory as a common-sense candidate. Picking Kansas Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum as his running mate, the historic Rudman/Kassebaum ticket scored a decisive victory due to massive support from independents, with many people saying Cuomo was overshadowed by his charismatic running mate. Warren Rudman became America's first Jewish President, and Nancy Landon Kassebaum became the first female elected on a national ticket.

Senator Warren Rudman (R-NH)/Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-KS) - 317 electoral votes, 52.4% of the popular vote
Governor Mario Cuomo (D-NY)/Governor Bill Clinton (D-AK) - 221 electoral votes, 46.8% of the popular vote

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Suggestion: Put the year at the top so its obvious

Fixed mine. I'm pretty sure it was 1988.

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President Alexander's Presidency remained popular, but his Vice President, Steve Forbes, was seen as an odd choice for a successor, having no previous electoral experience. The economy remained fairly strong, although early signs of a recession were emerging. Vice President Forbes was able to emerge victorious in a contested but respectful Republican primary, beating Texas Gov. Rick Perry for the nomination. Forbes then chose Perry as his running mate.

The real shocker, however, was on the Democratic side. Out of office since 1996, Former President Gary Hart announced his candidacy for the Presidency. At 68, he was an older candidate, but soon proved himself to easily have the energy of his younger rivals. The primary was crowded, but Hart's star power, combined with lingering anger over his controversial 1996 loss, allowed him to easily climb to the top of the field. Choosing primary opponent Sen. Evan Bayh as his running mate, former President Hart overwhelmed Vice President Forbes and became the second President to ever be elected to two non-consecutive terms.

With the election of Former President Hart, both parties prepared for a wide-open campaign in four years, as Hart would not be able to run for re-election.

Former President Gary Hart (D-CO)/Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) - 336 Electoral Votes, 51.8% of the popular vote
Vice President Steve Forbes (R-NY)/Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) - 202 electoral votes, 47.6% of the popular vote

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Sure. This one really only had one more election in it, most likely. Go ahead.

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2004

The September 11th terror attacks cast a pall over President Clinton's second term. Although his response and the subsequent bombing of Afghanistan that followed did give him a huge boost in support, it wasn't enough for his Vice President to overcome a man who had become a national hero in the aftermath of the attacks.

Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R-NY)/Senator John McCain (R-AZ) - 391 electoral votes, 52.8% of the popular vote
Vice President Mario Cuomo (D-NY)/Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) - 147 electoral votes, 46.1% of the popular vote

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I don't really feel qualified to jump in on this one, but I wanted to congratulate everyone on creating an amazing timeline. This one is really fascinating.

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1916

The sinking of the Lusitana brought World War I to the United States, as President Roosevelt responded to the provocation with an uncompromising stance and list of demands. German intransigence led to conflicts in the Atlantic, and soon war was on. Although the majority of Americans supported the US' involvement, a significant anti-war movement emerged, led by the fiery Senator from Missouri and former VP nominee. Stone was easily able to claim the nomination, and picked the no-nonsense Governor of New Jersey from Roosevelt's backyard as his running mate. Despite an energetic campaign from the Democrats, election night was a solid mandate for President Roosevelt's decision to bring America into the war, and he used his victory speech to promise a decisive victory.

President Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY)/Vice President Leonard Wood (R-NH)- 319 electoral votes, 52.8% of the popular vote
Senator William J. Stone (D-MO)/Governor Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ) - 212 electoral votes, 45.7% of the popular vote

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1944

President Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (P-NY)/Vice President Alf Landon (P-KS) - 362 Electoral votes, 54.5% of the popular vote
Senator Millard Tydings (D-MD)/Senator Harry Truman (D-MO) - 169 electoral votes, 44.1% of the popular vote

Like his father, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. soon found his Presidency eclipsed by war. The Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declaration of war by Nazi Germany and its allies was met with a strong response by Roosevelt. Where some felt that Roosevelt's previous foreign policy had been too weak, now some grumbled if he was taking too strong a stance, especially in Europe. However, his prosecution of the war remained popular, and the Tydings/Truman ticket was not expected to pose much of a challenge to Roosevelt's bid for a third term, given the situation at the time.

However, only four months before election day, the President suffered a sudden heart attack and was hospitalized, due to the stress of the war. Doctors were able to save his life, but many people expressed doubts if he should continue the campaign. His father's son, Roosevelt defied doctor's orders and was back on the campaign trail as soon as he was physically ready. In the end, America gave him a ringing endorsement to finish the job, but many worried whether he would live to see the end of the war...

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President John Sparkman's second term was effective, although damaged a bit by growing conflict in the south. The ardent segregationist was dead-set against civil rights reforms that the previous President, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., had attempted to push through. However, as the cold war raged, he found an effective surrogate in his charismatic young Vice President. Sparkman chose not to seek a third term, and Kennedy was the unanimously chosen successor. He doubled down on Anti-Communism as the theme of his campaign, choosing hard-line California Senator Richard Nixon as his VP. It was a risky ticket - A Democratic ticket without the South represented - but it worked. Progressive Candidate Adlai Stevenson did his best to paint the Kennedy/Nixon ticket as radical fearmongers, but the public didn't swallow it. The one bit of excitement in a landslide election was Stevenson's running mate, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. While many saw her selection as a desperate move by a hopeless campaign, she quickly overshadowed her running mate and many started speaking of her as the next Progressive superstar.

Vice President Joe Kennedy Jr. (D-MA)/Senator Richard Nixon (D-CA) - 484 electoral votes
Former Governor Adlai Stevenson (P-IL)/Senator Margaret Chase Smith (P-ME) - 53 electoral votes.

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2008

President McCain's term was widely successful, as he charted a moderate path. His successful response to the massive humanitarian crisis caused by Hurricane Katrina won him much praise, although his aggressive national security measures caused no small amount of controversy in his own party. However, towards the end of his term, the economy ran aground, and the aging President found himself unprepared to face a flagging economy. The field was thrown into disarray when McCain shocked everyone by announcing that, at 72, he would not seek re-election. Vice President Feingold ran for the nomination on a platform of aggressive government intervention in the economy to ease the crisis, but he was upset by a surprise entry - Attorney General Rudy Giuliani, a former Mayor and Senator. He touted his knowledge of the economy and job creation from his time as Mayor, as well as his national security credentials. By combining the security policies of President McCain with a new approach to the economy, he was able to present himself as his own man, separate from the current administration, and easily fended off the Democratic candidate - the Populist firebrand Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas.

Attorney General Rudy Giuliani (P-NY)/Governor Brian Schweitzer (P-MT) - 368 Electoral Votes, 55.4% of the popular vote
Senator Sam Brownback (D-KS)/Governor Bobby Jindal (D-LA) - 170 electoral votes, 43.9% of the popular vote

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Time for a new one?

1976:

President Gerald Ford/Senator Robert Dole - 277 electoral votes, 49.8% of the popular vote
Governor Jimmy Carter/Senator Walter Mondale, 261 electoral votes, 49.1% of the popular vote

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2000:

After 12 years of Democratic Government, the public is ready for a change. While many of President Dukakis' reforms were popular, the public grew uneasy with his successor's attempts to build on them, including a push for single-payer health care. This caused a collapse in Clinton's support in the south. Combined with growing rumors of "Zipper problems" and what was seen as lackluster responses to several terror attacks abroad, Clinton found himself facing an uphill battle for re-election. President Clinton attempted to shore up his base by attacking the perceived radicalism of his GOP opponents, but that strategy unraveled when former VP nominee Senator John McCain won the New Hampshire primary. He doubled down on his moderate appeal by selecting popular New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an effective reformer of a deep blue city, as his Vice President, and by pushing his foreign policy experience, was able to win a close but clear victory over the incumbent. A third party run by columnist Pat Buchanan, unsatisfied with the conservatism of the GOP nominee, posed a challenge but in the end was not able to derail the Republicans.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ)/Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) - 293 electoral votes, 49.1% of the popular vote
President Bill Clinton (D-AR)/Vice President Paul Wellstone (D-MN) - 245 electoral votes, 46.9% of the popular vote
Columnist Patrick J. Buchanan/Activist Ezola Foster - 2.3% of the popular vote

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Why would Pat Buchanan pick Wynona LaDuke?

My mind played tricks on me, and I got her mixed up with Ezola Foster. It's fixed.

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1988:

Congressman Jack Kemp (IR-NY)/Congressman Jim Jeffords (IR-VT) - 356 electoral votes, 43.1% of the popular vote
Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC)/Senator Dan Quayle (R-IN) - 146 electoral votes, 32.4% of the popular vote
Vice President Walter Mondale (D-MN)/Governor Michael Dukakis (D-MA) - 36 electoral votes, 24.0% of the popular vote

With President Kennedy unable to run for re-election due to serving almost all of President Church's term, his VP Mondale stepped up to run, and the election quickly turned into a battle of extremes. Mondale chose Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis as his running mate, and the two ran on a platform of unabashed liberal policies. Meanwhile, controversial Southerner Jesse Helms claimed the Republican nomination, and chose culture warrior Dan Quayle as his #2. This left an opening for the Independent Republicans, and they chose the northeastern ticket of Congressmen Jack Kemp and Jim Jeffords, both moderates who espoused common sense policies that struck a chord with the public. They ate heavily into the support of both candidates, and on election day, scored a decisive victory. And with that, the two-party system in the United States seemed to be no more.

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1976

Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA)/Senator Paul Laxalt (R-NM) - 363 electoral votes, 48.9% of the popular vote
Governor George Wallace (I-AL)/Governor Lester Maddox (I-GA) - 172 electoral votes, 27.4% of the popular vote
President George McGovern (D-SD)/Vice President Kevin White (D-MA) - 3 electoral votes, 23.0% of the popular vote

President McGovern's Presidency began on a high note, with a quick American withdrawal from Vietnam. Unfortunately for the administration, that unraveled when an emboldened North Vietnamese army retaliated against the US, turning the withdrawal into a bloody catastrophe. McGovern's refusal to retaliate and general aggressively pacifist tone played well with his liberal base, but turned off most independents. In many ways, he had already lost re-election, and as such doubled down on his liberal policies for the rest of his term. When Congress refused to pass his bills, he issued hundreds of executive orders. A Republican takeover in 1974 resulted in politically motivated impeachment proceedings, but the Senate didn't convict on a party-lines vote. McGovern surprised the establishment by choosing to run for re-election, fending off a challenge from southern Governor Jimmy Carter, despite cellar-level approval ratings.

Sensing opportunity, the Republicans nominated popular Governor Ronald Reagan of California, who chose old friend Paul Laxalt as his running mate. The real surprise came in the south, where George Wallace re-invented himself as a firebrand populist, reviving the spirit of Huey Long and picking up a lot of disaffected southern Democrats. While the results were never really in doubt, Wallace's strong showing and President McGovern's near-shutout marked a historic election.

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I Like, I Like! What does a McGovern Presidency bode for our nation? Can't wait for 1976.

If you want to, you can make 1976. Its collaborative, so we go in turns.

Whoops, sorry, jumped in. It was an interesting start.

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Heh, interesting ending.

So, a new one?

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1940:

"Good Enough for Washington"

Vice President John Nance Garner (D-TX)/Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace (D-IA) - 365 electoral votes, 53.1% of the popular vote
Wendell Wilkie (R-NY)/Senator Charles McNary (R-OR), 166 electoral votes, 46.4% of the popular vote

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1960:

Governor Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY)/Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA) - 356 electoral votes, 52.7% of the popular vote
Vice President Barry Goldwater (D-AZ)/Governor George Wallace (D-AL) - 181 electoral votes, 46.8% of the popular vote

Nelson Rockefeller returned to the Republican fold for another run in 1960, as the popular President Kennedy wrapped up his second term. His chief rival, former VP nominee Richard Nixon, lambasted Rockefeller for his third-party run, but Rockefeller's superior campaigning and name recognition allowed him to emerge on top at a brokered convention. Nixon declined a second run at the Vice Presidency, and well-regarded Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was selected instead. On the Democratic side, Vice President Goldwater was nominated unanimously, but his Vice Presidential selection was a surprise. George Wallace, the populist Governor of Alabama, had been elected only two years earlier, defeating the KKK-backed candidate in this deep south state in an upset. Many credited this victory to President Kennedy's strong coattails. Wallace's charismatic, fiery style made him a campaign favorite, but he was unable to help the Goldwater campaign attain victory, as the VP's controversial policies doomed him. And Nelson Rockefeller, a member of one of the most powerful families in American history, reached the mountaintop.

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Colonel Sanders - The Herman Cain of the 60s? Love it.