1976-Reagan instead of Ford

[Kaine for Senate '18]

In 1976, incumbent Gerald Ford, after dealing with problems for three years following Watergate, decides not to seek reelection, and Governor Ronald Reagan of California is easily selected as the nominee.  He chooses Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina to be his running mate.  The Democrats still nominate Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia, and he selects Walter Mondale of Minnesota to be his running mate.  Please discuss with maps.

Carter/Mondale: 290
Reagan/Helms: 248

[Person Man]

I wonder what would happen if Reagan was defeated before 1980? Do you think he would ever impelement his revolution?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I doubt it.  He wouldn't have the popular support that he had when he won in 1980, he would just be some loser trying to run for president again.

[Person Man]

What would you think would happen then?

[Wakie]

Broadly speculating ... I think Reagan would have lost in '76 by a razor thin margin only to come back in 1980 stronger and that, historically, the impact would have been small.

Conversely, if Reagan had run and won in 1976 he likely would have been run out of office in 1980 and we'd have had a President Ted Kennedy (12 years of 3 different Republican Presidents and the miserable state of affairs in 1980 would have thrown the country strongly to the Dems).

Teddy though isn't as lucky as run as John Hinkley would succeed in killing him.  So his 1980 VP (insert the guy you think would have best helped Teddy in 1980) would become President.