1980: Jimmy Carter (D) vs John Anderson (R)

[Michael Z]

Say John Anderson wins the Republican primaries and takes on Jimmy Carter. Who's his running mate? Who wins the election?

[True Federalist]

If we limit the field to just those who contended in the Prepublican primaries, we can exclude Phil Crane, since he too was a representative from Illinois.  Baker or Connally are the logical choices for Anderson, and I think he would pick Baker of the two.

One thing that should not be neglected is that with Anderson running as the Republican, the Libertarians will be doing much better in 1980.  Third party energies that went to Anderson simply because he wasn't the Republican or Democratic candidate will go to Clark instead.  A number of Reagan voters will either stay home or vote Libertarian instead of voting for Anderson.



407 Anderson/Baker
128 Carter/Mondale
    3 Clark/Koch

Carter’s gain in the Electoral college has nothing to do with him getting more votes.  Rather it comes from Reagan voters either staying home or voting Libertarian.

[Speed of Sound]

I might actually have voted Anderson, but I dont know quite enough about them to truly say that. From what I know now, however, meaning in retrospect, I probably would have voted Carter.

[MasterJedi]

Anderson wins but by not as much as Reagan.

[Michael Z]

I wonder how world history would have gone had Anderson been President. I'm not even sure if things would be marginally different. Less of a wealth gap in western countries, perhaps.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

Carter's performance as President left much to be desired in a leader.  By the election of 1980, Carter was a discredited President.  He had proven himself to to be a weak and ineffective leader, and did not inspire the confidence of Americans by 1980.  The economy was in a "malaize," and the Iran hostage incident reflected very poorly on Carter's abilities to properly handle an international crisis.

John Anderson makes a surprise pick for Vice President, the young, dynamic Governor of Virginia, John Dalton, more conservative than Anderson, and from the south.

Anderson/Dalton          362
Carter/Mondale            176     

[True Federalist]

I wonder how world history would have gone had Anderson been President. I'm not even sure if things would be marginally different. Less of a wealth gap in western countries, perhaps.

If he could have gotten his 50 cent a gallon European-style gas tax passed we might have a real energy policy today.

[HardRCafé]

Carter could have eked out a narrow victory against Anderson.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

BUMP



John B. Anderson/Howard Baker (R): 329 EV, 51% of the PV
James E. Carter/Walter F. Mondale (D): 209 EV, 49% of the PV

Congressman Anderson defeats incumbent President Carter to become 40th President of the United States. Whilst President Carter performs better in the South and in some parts of the New England area, it is not enough to offset Congressman Anderson from winning the Presidency. I could potentially see a strong third party challenge in this scenario, maybe from the likes of Ed Clark, the 1980 Libertarian nominee.

[Senator Ben]

Anderson wins 325-210-3, with Clark winning in AK.