1976 Primaries

[PPT Spiral]

This recap will be shorter 'cause I'm tired.

Faced with a divided left and a nation turned sour again, President Kennedy was crushed by AU rising star Robert Taft, Jr., whose father was president not especially long ago. Following a 20-point loss to Taft, who won every state but D.C. in the process, Kennedy would be humiliated and rarely seen in public again. With another President Taft leading the free world, Taft the Younger in many ways tried to emulate how his father handled the role. Like his father, he preferred not to act as a strong executive, instead deferring to Congress to craft most domestic policy. He quickly earned a reputation as a fiscal conservative, though, concerned with the growing budget deficits since the '60s and promoting his balanced budget proposals. With the economy at only tepid growth and inflation still stubbornly high, the president was able to push through a temporary tax relief bill but many Americans were still left feeling the pinch. It would be foreign policy where Taft earned a spot in history books, however: Marking a new era in Cold War politics, the president pursued détente and significantly eased tensions with the USSR through treaties, getting the Soviets to agree to scaling back nuclear arsenal supplies as well as opening up trade. New diplomatic relations were also established, most notably China beginning with Taft's highly publicized visit to the nation.

While President Taft enjoys moderate popularity overall, he is being challenged by the right flank of the AU firmly opposed to détente, represented by repeat contender Ronald Reagan. Over at the other two parties, the race is very fluid right now. For the DA, Former Vice President George McGovern is seen as the man to beat but has formidable opponents, such as 1972 VP nominee Birch Bayh; basketball pro Mo Udall; and consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who jumped in after a strong draft movement emerged. Also in the mix are "New Populist" Fred Harris and President Kennedy's former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, a prominent antiwar voice. For the WP, Senator "Scoop" Jackson is considered the slight frontrunner, having been Edmund Muskie's running mate four years before. Walter Mondale is the other strong candidate, being a favorite of labor. The more long-shot possibilities include peanut farmer Jimmy Carter; public education enthusiast and university president Terry Sanford; and George Wallace, the two-time nominee making yet another run (again).

[Intell]

Udall/BayhHarris.

[Mr. Smith]

Jimmy Carter Sanford!

But I won't cry if Carter takes the nomination.

But for now Sanford/Tunney (CA) or Sanford/Mondale sounds good to me.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Senator Birch Bayh/ Senator Mo Udall '76!

Glad to see this back. Is there a working list of presidents for this TL?

[Intell]

What is the list of presidents for this Time-Line ?

[PPT Spiral]

Glad to see this back. Is there a working list of presidents for this TL?

What is the list of presidents for this Time-Line ?

The master thread can be found here, though it hasn't been updated in a while since it's Cathcon's thread (he originally started the series). The presidents who have served since the last update include:

Robert A. Taft (1941-1945)
Upton Sinclair (1945-1949)
Robert A. Taft (1949-1953)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1955)
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1955-1957)
Estes Kefauver (1957-1961)
Barry Goldwater (1961-1969)
Robert F. Kennedy (1969-1973)
Robert Taft, Jr. (1973-present)

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

As much as I'm a big fan of Reagan, I'm backing the incumbent President.

[Türkisblau]

Fred Harris!

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Birch Bayh/Gaylord Nelson

[Mr. Smith]

Glad to see this back. Is there a working list of presidents for this TL?

What is the list of presidents for this Time-Line ?

The master thread can be found here, though it hasn't been updated in a while since it's Cathcon's thread (he originally started the series). The presidents who have served since the last update include:

Robert A. Taft (1941-1945)
Upton Sinclair (1945-1949)
Robert A. Taft (1949-1953)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1955)
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1955-1957)
Estes Kefauver (1957-1961)
Barry Goldwater (1961-1969)
Robert F. Kennedy (1969-1973)
Robert Taft, Jr. (1973-present)

Mostly updated, I joined in '52 and therefore lack knowledge of the 40's Vice Presidents.

Also, it looks like the WP and DA both are gonna need run-offs

[ElectionsGuy]

Taft