1988: Pat Robertson (R) v Jesse Jackson (D)

[Michael Z]

Say Robertson wins the Republican nomination and Jackson beats Dukakis in the Democratic primaries. What happens next? My feeling is that a third party candidate would have attracted the moderate vote and won the election - but who?

[AndrewTX]

I don't know who would have won, but I'm sure it wouldn't be either of those two.

[Ferdinand]

Jesse Jackson (D) - 47%
Pat Robertson (R) - 40%
Ron Paul (L) - 12%
Others - 1%

Jesse Jackson is the least crazy of the two, and would have come off better. Though, both of them being extreme, Ron Paul and the Libertarian Party would have emerged strongly.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The lowest turnout in American history.