Reagan and Ford

[SPC]

Let's assume that Reagan chose Ford as VP in 1980 instead of Bush. What would the 1988 election look like? Woulf Ford run? Who would be the nominees for both parties?

[TommyC1776]

Let's assume that Reagan chose Ford as VP in 1980 instead of Bush. What would the 1988 election look like? Woulf Ford run? Who would be the nominees for both parties?

idk if Ford would've ran because he would've been 75 in 1988.

[King]

Bob Dole would've been the 88 nominee and probably would've beaten Dukakis as at 65 he was not as senile as he was in 96 and Dukakis is well...Dukakis.

[Verily]

Bob Dole would've been the 88 nominee and probably would've beaten Dukakis as at 65 he was not as senile as he was in 96 and Dukakis is well...Dukakis.

That seems unfair to Dukakis. He probably would have won had he not made a huge campaign blunder (the tank commercial); he led substantially in the polls beforehand. Would that have happened against Dole? My guess is no - Dukakis wouldn't have to prove commitment to the military.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Bob Dole would've been the 88 nominee and probably would've beaten Dukakis as at 65 he was not as senile as he was in 96 and Dukakis is well...Dukakis.

My guess is no - Dukakis wouldn't have to prove commitment to the military.

Why not?  Bob Dole was a friggin' war hero.

[HardRCafé]

Bob Dole would've been the 88 nominee and probably would've beaten Dukakis as at 65 he was not as senile as he was in 96 and Dukakis is well...Dukakis.

That seems unfair to Dukakis.

Less unfair to Dukakis than to Dole, who was not remotely senile in 1996.

[gorkay]

Ford definitely wouldn't have run in 1988. In fact, Ford and Reagan may well have grown tired of each other by 1984, at which point he would have stepped down from the ticket.