What if George Bush Sr had been re-elected in 92

[DanimalBr]

I attended the inauguration ceremonies on Tuesday.  And as they were introducing the guests, I saw a face and heard a name I haven't heard in a long time, Dan Quayle.  And I'm starting to ask myself, what if George H. W. Bush had won re-election in 1992. 

For most of the past century, whenever a two term president comes to the end of his time in office, the sitting V.P. seems to always get the nomination for the next election.  V.P Nixon got the nomination in 1960 after Eisenhower.  V.P Bush got the nomination in 88  after Reagain.  V.P. Gore got the nomination in 200 after Gore.   Cheney will be the exception as it looks unlikey he will run in 08 due to health reasons. 

But given how much the press pounded Dan Quayle, and his constant image problem, I wonder if he would have gotten the nod in 96 had Bush 41 won re-election.  You also had Bob Dole at that time who's career was ending and as it turned out he made one final run at the presidency.  You also had Pat Buchanan who tried several times to get the Republican nomination.   And of course you have George W. and Jeb who by 96 had their own political careers and probably would have had their names tossed up.  So who would it have been

[J. J.]

Two possibilities, Dick Cheney (and he was considering a run in '96), and Lamar Alexander (who ran in '96).   Powell would have be the best candidate, but probably would not have run.

[Akno21]

John Kasich, John Ashcroft, maybe.

I'm seeing John Kerry, Al Gore, and Bob Graham go for the Democratic nod.

[Rob]

Quayle would have gotten the nomination. He may have been a laughingstock but the White House would have saved his candidacy. In the general, of course, he would have been slaughtered.

[themadmac]

Nah... Dole would've taken Quayle in the primaries.  Despite the VP tag, Quayle was a lightweight next to Dole.

[7,052,770]

people speculated that Bradley might beat Gore, but when it came down to it, with the VP tag, Gore ran Bradley into the ground.  I'd bet the same would happen, with people speculating against Quayle early on, but Quayle getting the nom in the end anyway.

[RJ]

I'm almost certain it would have been Quayle. Even though he was not very well liked, there was enough of a base to vote for him. He also would have had much more recognition than even Dole. Plus, he probably would have had the endorsement of a sitting two term president.

 And of course you have George W. and Jeb who by 96 had their own political careers and probably would have had their names tossed up. 

George Jr. was elected as the governor of Texas in 1996 and Jeb won the same in Florida in the same year, or so I've read, so their political careers would probably not be established at that time, although(little known fact) "Dubya" ran his father's campaign in 1988.

Not trying to hi-jack a thread or anything and I'll start a new one if it gets too out of hand, but I think a more interesting question would be who would the republicans have run in 04' if Gore won in 2000?

[A18]

It was 1994 when George Bush and Jeb Bush won their gubernatorial elections.

[nclib]

Jeb Bush lost in '94.

[A18]

Oh, sorry, I forgot. Jeb won in '98 and '02.

[J. J.]

George Jr. was elected as the governor of Texas in 1996 and Jeb won the same in Florida in the same year, or so I've read, so their political careers would probably not be established at that time, although(little known fact) "Dubya" ran his father's campaign in 1988.

GWB didn't "run" the campaugn, but he was a senior, if unofficial, political advisor to GHWB.  He was exceptionally involved in the campaign, but didn't "run" it.

[PBrunsel]

Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana.

He ran his campaign on fighting terrorism and limiting  for WMD's in enemy nations. These dieas were not fully thought of as "important" in 1996, but Bush did throw hiss upport behind Lugar in 1996, at least "unoficially."

[Storebought]

Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana.

He ran his campaign on fighting terrorism and limiting  for WMD's in enemy nations. These dieas were not fully thought of as "important" in 1996, but Bush did throw hiss upport behind Lugar in 1996, at least "unoficially."

Lugar? He's even less credible as a presidential candidate than Phil Gramm or Bob Dole were.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The Democrats wouldn't have lost the House in 1994