Though it is a given if the Veep was elected separately different running-mates would have been selected. However, I shall now wager a guess at who would win the Vice-Presidency from 1928 to 2004.
1928: Curtis vs. Robinson would end in a victory for Senator Robinson. Unlike Smith, Robinson could win the entire South and most likely the industrial North. Curtis (a Native-American) was simply too polarizing a figure to win a national election due to his near draconian senate rules (and he had the charisma of Calvin Coolidge
)
1932: Curtis vs. Garner would leave Curtis another casualty of the depression.
1936: Garner vs. Knox would have been a humorous contest. Knox, an extremely anti-New Deal editor, would have ripped into Garner constantly with Garner most likely responding with obscenity. Without Landon’s “Me-Too”ism Knox does better than winning Maine and Vermont, but still loses by a wide margin to Garner.
1940: Wallace vs. McNary would have been an easy victory for McNary as Wallace was just viewed as odd by most Americans. Wallace was a nice enough fellow and a true idealist, but when you start to ask advice from a Maharaja faith healer like Wallace did during the 1940 Campaign, middle America may view you as insane.
1944: Truman vs. Bricker would be a great campaign. Both men were true public servants and both cared deeply about the issues. Being a time of war, Americans would have probably rejected the isolationism of Bricker and chose Truman out of respect for FDR.
1948: Barkley vs. Warren would have been another interesting race with two good candidates, but Barkley’s southern roots (which were a hindrance in the late 1940’s) would have done him in, as would his age.
1952: Sparkman vs. Nixon would be a Sparkman victory as Nixon was seen as too polarizing a figure in 1952. He was seen until 1956 as the “scrappy fighter” who brought down Alger Hiss (a liberal favorite) and dividing the nation with a reference to his dog.
1956: Nixon vs. Kefauver is a Nixon win based on how by 1956 the GOP had carted out the “New Nixon” who was less aggressive. The charade worked in 1956 as Stevenson’s pathetic “Do you want a President Nixon?” campaign blew up in his face and left him with nothing but a hole in his shoe.
1960: Lodge vs. Johnson is a landslide for Johnson since Lodge (only on the ticket due to the Treaty of 42nd Street) never campaigned and didn’t want the job.
1964: Humphrey vs. Miller is a Humphrey win, but fairly narrow, as Miller (unlike Goldwater) had fine relations with the press. Bill Miller would have made an excellent Vice-President.
1968: Muskie vs. Agnew vs. LeMay is a huge Muskie win because Agnew actually was a hindrance to Nixon. Humphrey's campaign probably won a million votes just by pointing our Agnew’s lack of experience compared to Muskie’s years of government service. Muskie is another man who would have made an outstanding Vice-President, and probably a good President. LeMay is a gem as he threatens to blow up New York City for being a “Communist stronghold”.
1972: Agnew vs. Shriver is an Agnew win as Shriver would have been brought down due to the God awful campaign of George S. McGovern and the Eagleton Affair.
1976: Dole vs. Mondale is a Mondale win because Dole was simply too mean in 1976 and alienated too many women voters and independents. Mondale was always a nice guy and a good natured fellow who made an outstanding Vice-President.
1980: Bush vs. Mondale would be a Bush win as Mondale is brought down in the anti-Democrat tidal wave of 1980.
1984: Bush vs. Ferarro is a win for the Reagan Revolution and a victory over Ferarro’s shady past.
1988: Quayle vs. Bentsen is a big Bentsen win as the Democrats were able to play on voter’s fears of a President Quayle. Bentsen would then be the Democratic heir apparent in 1992.
1992: Quayle vs. Gore vs. Stockdale is a win for Senator Gore. When watching the Vice-Presidential debate Gore appeared more professional than Quayle and Stockdale simply appeased lost.
1996: Gore vs. Kemp is a win for Gore by a very narrow margin. Kemp was unable to really deliver at the debates and was always seen as a relic of the 1980’s. Dole-Kemp seems like a ticket for 1988.
2000: Cheney vs. Lieberman, I can feel the electricity in the air! Seriously, Lieberman would most likely have scraped out a narrow win (but Art Oliver the Libertarian would take close to 20% of the vote just because some voters would probably want a candidate who simulated life).
2004: Cheney vs. Edwards is a Cheney win due to Cheney’s superior experience and debating skill. The War on Terror gives Cheney a narrow win, but Edwards gets the consolation prize: hair gel.
