What if Strom Thurmond ran for reelection in 2002

[Dr. MB]

Would he have won reelection? He was elected with over 60% in almost every election before 1990, but in 1996 he won only 53%, with his opponent campaigning almost entirely on his advanced age and how that would be an impediment to his service.

If he had ran in 2002, he would have been 100 and, if elected, would only have served a few months of his term. Would he have been successful?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I've wondered about this recently.

[peterthlee]

He would still win, but by weak single digits. He was a lifer.
Also, 1996 is a year in which a democratic incumbent won by nearly 10 points.

[Rjjr77]

Would he have won reelection? He was elected with over 60% in almost every election before 1990, but in 1996 he won only 53%, with his opponent campaigning almost entirely on his advanced age and how that would be an impediment to his service.

If he had ran in 2002, he would have been 100 and, if elected, would only have served a few months of his term. Would he have been successful?

Yes, Graham won by ten points to succeed him

[KingSweden]

He would have won, probably by 8-9 points.

The more interesting question is whether Hodges survives with Strom on the ballot, and who would have been picked as the replacement when Strom croaked the next year. If it had been DeMint, what happens in 2004? Interesting hypotheticals

[Rjjr77]

He would have won, probably by 8-9 points.

The more interesting question is whether Hodges survives with Strom on the ballot, and who would have been picked as the replacement when Strom croaked the next year. If it had been DeMint, what happens in 2004? Interesting hypotheticals

They'd pick DeMint, Graham runs in 2004

[Virginiá]

I've wondered about this recently.

Just randomly thinking about ol' Strom ? This is totally an Atlas thing. Just casually wondering about how some deceased Senator from almost a generation ago would perform in an upcoming election.

[Rjjr77]

I've wondered about this recently.

Just randomly thinking about ol' Strom ? This is totally an Atlas thing. Just casually wondering about how some deceased Senator from almost a generation ago would perform in an upcoming election.

He's one of the nicest politicians I've ever met. Still have an autographed picture of him in my office he gave me when I was a kid

[Mr.Phips]

He would have won by over 10 points.

[Illiniwek]

He would be in Trump's cabinet if he were around today

Lol a 114 year old Strom Thurmond in the Cabinet. God help us.

[Del Tachi]

He would have won, probably by 8-9 points.

The more interesting question is whether Hodges survives with Strom on the ballot, and who would have been picked as the replacement when Strom croaked the next year. If it had been DeMint, what happens in 2004? Interesting hypotheticals

They'd pick DeMint, Graham runs in 2004

Would the 2010 Tea Party wave have taken out Graham in the primary?

[Rjjr77]

He would have won, probably by 8-9 points.

The more interesting question is whether Hodges survives with Strom on the ballot, and who would have been picked as the replacement when Strom croaked the next year. If it had been DeMint, what happens in 2004? Interesting hypotheticals

They'd pick DeMint, Graham runs in 2004

Would the 2010 Tea Party wave have taken out Graham in the primary?

I'd say probably not.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Funny enough, there's exactly 1 US citizen alive born before Thurmond. She lives in Italy. Obama 2008 was the first time she voted since Eisenhower 1952.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

He would have won, probably by 8-9 points.

The more interesting question is whether Hodges survives with Strom on the ballot, and who would have been picked as the replacement when Strom croaked the next year. If it had been DeMint, what happens in 2004? Interesting hypotheticals

They'd pick DeMint, Graham runs in 2004

Would the 2010 Tea Party wave have taken out Graham in the primary?

Graham was an icon among the Tea Party before it became the Tea Party-"let us win", "cowards cut and run", etc were the slogans of the day. A vast majority of "newly akawened" Tea Party activists were always active Republicans. Longtime vets of Congress like Ander Crenshaw (who is married to Claude Kirk's daughter) who have been in elected office in some form or another since the Nixon era were a big part of the Tea Party caucus.

I'd imagine Graham survives 2010 due to Balkanized opposition, just like he did in 2014. 2016, much like 2020 in real life, would be a different story for Graham.

[KingSweden]

He would have won, probably by 8-9 points.

The more interesting question is whether Hodges survives with Strom on the ballot, and who would have been picked as the replacement when Strom croaked the next year. If it had been DeMint, what happens in 2004? Interesting hypotheticals

They'd pick DeMint, Graham runs in 2004

I think this is likely