2012: Biden/Landrieu vs. Romney/Thune

[Psychic Octopus]

Ok, might not be very plausible, but here it goes:

After suceeding in creating a health care reform bill, albeit weathered down, Barack Obama begins to think of his re-election camapign. In the Summer of 2010, President Obama signs immigration reform, a second landmark of his administration. However, he is losing popularity, mostly due to agitators on the Right Wing, perceived international weakness, and a slow recovery. In the 2010 elections, the Republicans are able to win back twenty-five house seats, four senate seats, and six governorships. While not enough to take back the Congress, Republican leadership would have a reason to grin. The Iraq War is dying down, but the War in Afghanistan is still raging, despite a large number of troops arriving. Muhammad Omar is dead. The situation there has improved however.

In the summer of 2011, President Obama makes a stop in California, a presidential visit. In California, a deranged far-right Republican shoots and kills the President. President Joseph Biden takes the oath of office amongst a deeply divided nation. He selects veteran congressman Dick Gephardt to be his Vice President.

In 2012, with progress in Afghanistan and a slowly recovering economy, the Republicans nominate Mitt Romney and John Thune. The Democrats re-nominate Joe Biden and Dick Gephardt. How does the election go. What are Biden's approval numbers? You decide. Discuss with maps, too.

EDIT: Mary Landrieu instead of Dick Gephardt, a respectable moderate and the first woman VP. Dick Gephardt is getting too old, and I made a mistake.

[CPT MikeyMike]

My vote would easily be for Romney because Biden is a snake.  However...

In 2012, with progress in Afghanistan and a slowly recovering economy

Those conditions would get Biden elected in his own right.

[The Mikado]

In that situation (which we all hope never comes to pass), I would hope that Biden would have the foresight to pick someone other than Dick Gephardt.

[pbrower2a]

Biden need do little more than to operate in the name of the martyred President to have a high approval rating -- probably in the vicinity of 55% -- at election time. That's good for an electoral blowout. Biden wins a bunch of the states that Obama lost in 2008.

That's not to say that Joe Biden would be even an average President.   

[Psychic Octopus]

In that situation (which we all hope never comes to pass), I would hope that Biden would have the foresight to pick someone other than Dick Gephardt.

Gephardt would be a reasonable pick. He wouldn't be controversial, is qualified for the job, and was a skilled in the house.

[Mr. Morden]

Biden will be 70 on Inauguration Day 2013, and Gephardt will be 71.  Something tells me that Biden would pick someone a bit younger as his running mate in this scenario.  Hard to imagine an all-septugenarian ticket.

[Psychic Octopus]

Biden will be 70 on Inauguration Day 2013, and Gephardt will be 71.  Something tells me that Biden would pick someone a bit younger as his running mate in this scenario.  Hard to imagine an all-septugenarian ticket.

Oh crap. I had no idea Gephardt was getting that old. In that case, he chooses Mary Landrieu, a respectable moderate Democrat.

[California8429]

Biden may give out the nuclear codes on The View this time, so I'm going Romney/Thune would win