A New America Series - 1988 Primaries

[Maxwell]

A New America Series - 1988 Primaries

Beyond some minor slowdowns, President Brown's second term was largely a success for the country - the Cold War is winding down, the budget faces its first surplus in decades, and unemployment has fallen to 4% - and even with large Republican gains in 1986 midterms, Brown looks like a favorite for another re-election as 1987 begins. Without a 22nd amendment, Brown announces his candidacy for a third term as President of the United States. However, he faces opposition from both sides of the political spectrum, and both on the same issue. President Brown has been negotiating a North American Free Trade Agreement, and while the proposal has large support in Congress and in the Washington consensus, other candidates seek to use it to beat President Brown. Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader has been gaining traction from that, and accusing Brown of being insufficiently liberal, citing Brown's inability to pass major healthcare reform legislation (Brown's own package that he managed to pass was considered a drop in the bucket, and did not do much to change the healthcare as a part of the market) and much else in liberal reforms, and instead being a cheerleader for Republican budget talk. Nader opposes NAFTA vehemently. Governor Harry Sparks of Indiana, son of the great Carl Sparks, is a fairly conservative Democrat who opposes NAFTA just as vehemently. Sparks wants to reduce the size of Government, and give a big ol' tax cut to the people.

The Republican field also has a diverse crowd, some who support NAFTA and some who oppose. The people's champ, and someone who deeply opposes is Governor Henry Ross Perot of Texas. Texas has long been a bastion for pro-business, pro-choice moderate Republicans like George H.W. Bush, but Perot has taken over the party to make it an odd pit of populist conservative views. Perot attacks big business and big government in his speeches, warns of the fears of massive debt, and warns of the "giant sucking sound" that will occur from NAFTA. Another major candidate is Senator Pete Wilson, who is a social moderate, but espouses strongly conservative views on how to cut taxes.  Wilson is also tough on crime and tough on the border, and plans swift action to secure the borders. Wilson does support NAFTA legislation. The most moderate candidate is Former Senator and Former Treasury Secretary Jon Huntsman, Sr.. Huntsman Sr. wants a layered tax credit program to encourage investment, raise middle class wages, and grow the economy. He's been praised for having the most detailed plan, but has alienated conservatives by calling those who oppose NAFTA "ing morons". Congressman Newt Gingrich's views are evolving, as he sounds every day more and more like a doctrinaire conservative. Gingrich proposes a 25% top rate and a swift reduction in welfare spending. Former Congressman Jack Kemp goes even further, proposing a 12.5% flat tax, a negative income tax for the poor, and a return to the gold standard. Kemp has been praised for his campaign skills while on the Goldwater/Kemp ticket. Majority Whip Alan Simpson is running with the endorsement of Majority Leader Bob Dole, and promotes a plan to make social security solvent. Simpson has also criticized Kemp and Armstrong as "wacko birds". Senator John P. Hammerschmidt is a social conservative, who is pushing himself as the values candidate that people need. Senator Bill Armstrong is definitely the most conservative candidate of them all, proposing a flat tax, promoting his family values as a plus, and a vow to put on the court pro-life judges who will overturn Roe V. Wade. Other pro-life candidates have not committed as far as to doing that.

2 Days to vote!

Jerry Brown will be replacing his Vice President, as John Glenn has made it clear he will not serve another four years. Here are some people Brown is thinking of:

Governor Ed Koch (D-NY)
Senator Gary Hart (D-CO)
Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR)
Congressman Bill Clinton (D-AR)
Senator Walter Mondale (D-MN)
Governor Wayne Owens (D-UT)
Secretary of State John Kerry (D-MA)

[Maxwell]

In summary:

Brown - Pro-NAFTA
Sparks - Anti-NAFTA
Nader - Anti-NAFTA

Perot - Anti-NAFTA
Wilson - Pro-NAFTA
Huntsman - Pro-NAFTA
Gingrich - Anti-NAFTA, but it honestly depends on the day
Kemp - Pro-NAFTA
Simpson - Pro-NAFTA
Hammerschmidt - Anti-NAFTA
Armstrong - Anti-NAFTA

[Maxwell]

Four more years, four more years!

[Classic Conservative]

Armstrong or Kemp

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Armstrong/Thurmond

[Intell]

Sparks.

[Maxwell]

Sadly (or not so sadly) Helms did not rise in this series. You know who you still have? Strom Thurmond and Senator Dick Cheney!

[Mike Thick]

Kemp for the win!

[Mr. Smith]

Perot for the shiggles

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Disappointed to see that Brown is pro-NAFTA, unlike his RL 1992 campaign. As a former Brown supporter, I can safely say I will not be supporting the President in his bid for a third term. Surprised at Gingrich, who declared himself the conservative vanguard of the "post-industrial" United States in real life. Voted Perot. We need a leader with the bravery to oppose the globalist, anti-industrial conspiracy.

Perot/Buchanan '88!

[Maxwell]

Brown became much more establishment as his career went on, my view is that being President speeds that up.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Armstrong for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

The only candidate willing to fight to defend our borders. Pete for President!

[Cassius]

The only candidate willing to fight to defend our borders. Pete for President!

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Sparks for President

[Maxwell]

Interesting results so far - the people's champ Ross Perot holding a narrow lead in the Republican primary, while President Brown is barely clinging to re-nomination.

[Kingpoleon]

Perot/Huntsman!

[Maxwell]

Last day ladies and gents, make this one count - so far Ross Perot leads the Republican field (though the moderate Huntsman is surging), and Brown holds a lead for re-nomination for a third term.

[Maxwell]

President Jerry Brown expected more or less to sail through the primary process. But the insurgent campaigns of Governor Harry Sparks of Indiana and Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader proved stronger than expected, and the outrage amongst liberals and union workers over NAFTA larger than expected. After the two largely sweeped the opening primaries (Sparks taking Michigan and New Hampshire, Nader taking Iowa and Hawaii), Brown agreed to a debate between the three. This significantly boosted President Brown as he sounded more well-versed on the issues while Nader and Sparks both sounded angry and extreme. Sparks polled close in Southern states while Nader polled close in the Northeast and the West, but Brown had a larger machine and once the machine was awakened, largely rolled over the two. Despite only receiving 45% of the vote, Brown had a whopping 60% of convention delegates, enough to seal re-nomination.

President Jerry Brown (D-CA) - 45.0%, 33 States + D.C.
Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader (D-CT) - 35.0%, 12 States
Governor Harry Sparks (D-IN) - 20.0%, 5 States

The Republican primary was more of a fight. The frontrunners for the nomination going in were Jack Kemp, Ross Perot, and Newt Gingrich. The first shock of the race was when Bill Armstrong upset Jack Kemp in Iowa, and the second was Jon Huntsman Sr. and Pete Wilson usurping Ross Perot in New Hampshire. The Republican primary really became a mudslinging mess quickly with multiple candidates taking the lead. Nevertheless, Perot and Kemp had significant organizational advantage over the rest of the candidates, and even as Huntsman spent $50 Million to win, Perot and Kemp proved the most inspiring to Republican voters. Kemp ended up with the highest delegate total, but with only a plurality he is relying on endorsements from Wilson and Gingrich to hold a delegate lead.

Former Congressman Jack Kemp (R-NY) - 28%
Governor H. Ross Perot (R-TX) - 24%
Senator Pete Wilson (R-CA) - 16%
Former Senator Jon Huntsman Sr. (R-UT) - 16%
Senator Bill Armstrong (R-CO) - 12%
Congressman Newt Gingrich (R-GA) - 4% (he's in light blue)