Hello Joe!: A President Lieberman Timeline

[Jerseyrules]

So, I am going to be starting a new TL, this one based on the synopsis that Clinton picks Lieberman as his running mate after a bitter primary campaign against gore (who resigns his senate seat to focus on his presidential campaign).  Other than that, his time as VP is largely similar to that of Gore's.  He does take a slightly louder opposition to Clinton regarding the Lewinsky scandal, however, during his time as VP and, as you will see, during the campaign.

Vice President Lieberman announces his campaign for the presidency on July 7, 1999.  But he isn't alone.  Because of his delayed announcement, Senator Paul Wellstone announced his candidacy for president on May 2, running largely to the left of Clinton and Lieberman, but also as the heir to Clinton.  For now, he's the crown prince of the progressive movement in the United States.

Senator Wellstone challenges the Vice President to attack him, and throws the first punch:
"The Vice President doesn't know what is best for the American people.  I respect him as man, but he's just George Bush in liberal-colored trappings.  I don't think he's even using the right color dye.  [scattered laughs from the audience].  He doesn't fight for a living wage, he doesn't fight for homosexual or workers' rights, and he sure as hell doesn't fight for the people!  He's in the pocket of corporations and lobbyists.  We need to fight to restore our nation!"

In response to Senator Wellstone, Vice President Lieberman said "I share the passion, but, ultimately, to govern this country, it takes more than passion. It takes experience. It takes positions that reflect the best values of the American people."

Democratic Primary Nationwide Poll:
Joe Lieberman: 52%
Paul Wellstone: 39%

Finally, the Vice President is convinced by his senior advisors (and close friend John McCain, who has abandoned his own campaign in support of Lieberman) to agree to debate Wellstone.

"In this era we live in, the United States - blessed with the world's strongest military, most ingenious economy, and most tolerant society - remains a model and leader to the world.  Now I believe we can build on that, and truly follow that bridge to the twenty-first century.  And finally, we have restored the image of the Democratic party, and now 'liberal' is not a bad word.  We need to win in November, gain seats in both houses of Congress, and restore integrity to the White House in 2000.  I'm running because I'm the best man to do just that."

[Jerseyrules]

Note: I changed the name, just cuz I thought it would be better.  I'm going to try really hard to get an update before this weekend, but I promise there will be one by Sunday.

[Jerseyrules]

Like it!

Thanks .  I'll try and work in an update tonight.  Hate the way we do tale of two cities; we have a damn quiz every day but we still are behind the other Honors English class.

[Jerseyrules]

"I am running for the Presidency of the United States to restore American honor, values, and tradition to the White House!  We shall make sure that the American people have their voices heard!  They are outraged about the disgraceful misuse of the Oval Office, the smearing of our family values, and the degradation of the highest office in the land.  Well, America, I'm glad to be the man chosen to take us back!  After eight years in the dark, let's bring back the good old Reagan years!"

"Tonight, I am proud to announce that I am running for the Presidency of the United States!  We must return our party from the brink of destruction, and save it from being highjacked by lobbyists and extremist loons!  We must restore a Republican to the White House, but we will only get there with sanity!  We will only get there with a major facelift!  And I believe that I am the best candidate to administer that facelift!"

Fast-forwarding......

Republican Presidential Primary Poll, December 1999:

George W. Bush: 41%
Elizabeth Dole: 21%
Christine Todd Whitman: 14%
Alan Keyes: 7%
Steve Forbes: 3%
Orrin Hatch: 2%

"Tonight I am announcing my candidacy for the Reform Party nomination!  Our party is in serious danger of being highjacked!  We can't afford to have Pat Buchanan representing our party, and I will not allow him to carry our banner next November.  I was reluctant to do this, but Ol' Pat has forced my hand.  I will not sit idly by as the moral majority attempt to take over our party and make it another arm of the GOP.  Ross Perot would not want that.  I do not want that.  sSo after agonizing over this decision for months, I'm in.  Get your Wall Street and CIA buddies, Pat.  You're gonna need 'em."

Reform Party Presidential Primary Poll, December 1999:
Jesse Ventura: 32%
Pat Buchanan: 30%
John Hagelin: 21%]

General Election Polls:

Bush vs. Lieberman vs. Ventura:
Lieberman: 45%
Bush: 45%
Ventura: 10%

Bush vs. Leiberman vs. Buchanan:
Lieberman: 49%
Bush: 46%
Buchanan: 1%

Bush vs. Wellstone vs. Ventura:
Bush: 53%
Wellstone: 39%
Ventura: 4%

Bush vs. Wellstone vs. Buchanan
Bush: 52%
Wellstone: 46%
Buchanan: 3%

[Jerseyrules]

Also, would anyone happen to have any info on the 2000 Reform party primaries?  It's very scarce; all I know is that the Illinois primary was on February 16

[Jerseyrules]

Also, would anyone happen to have any info on the 2000 Reform party primaries?  It's very scarce; all I know is that the Illinois primary was on February 16

I'ma get you a link. I once had a thread on it that I made with the help of some data realisticidealist gave me. Also, since then I've discovered a new source for campaign info that might also help.

Thanks Cathcon. So you have something in addition to the link?

[Jerseyrules]

Also, would anyone happen to have any info on the 2000 Reform party primaries?  It's very scarce; all I know is that the Illinois primary was on February 16

I'ma get you a link. I once had a thread on it that I made with the help of some data realisticidealist gave me. Also, since then I've discovered a new source for campaign info that might also help.

Thanks Cathcon. So you have something in addition to the link?

ourcampaigns.com. Sadly, after checking them out, doesn't look like they have a schedule. The site is all about recording the results of every political race imaginiable. Usually this includes individual primaries, but not in the case of something as obscure as the Reform Party primary schedule. (hopefully) "Relevant links" are in the last and most recent post in the thread.

Also, where'd you get the info on the IL primary being on Feb. 16?

I got the primary info from here:

http://www.natural-law.org/news/newsletters/13_mar00/01_reform.html

Turns out it was on February 12, and I got that the Reform Party did in fact have a primary in Iowa, and that Hagelin won it OTL (I'm unsure of how the delegate system works in the RP, because if it was decided solely on the amount of primary victories similar to EV system (the system which both major parties employ) then I can't see how Buchanan would've won the nomination IOTL).

Thanks man

[Jerseyrules]

I'm hoping this info can contribute to the Reform Party Primary schedule I attempted to build last fall in that thread I linked you to.

EDIT: Hmmm... "straw poll votes"... Do these count on the primary schedule?

I'm honestly not sure, but I'd assume that they are similar to GOP Iowa Straw Poll, or they are just the Reform Party version of Caucuses, the latter of which makes it much more complicated....

[Jerseyrules]

Hmmm....there doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to the primary outcomes or delegates....  Anyway, thanks Cathcon!

[Jerseyrules]

Why does Ventura poll better against liberal Wellstone than conservative Lieberman? Lieberman would draw a huge liberal backlash.

Fixed .  That's what I'd had in mind, but I did this late at night.

[Jerseyrules]

Medea Benjamin Allowed to Debate!  Green Party Organizers (including one young SF community organizer named Matt Gonzales) Storm the Golden State!  Nader Stops By!

She has made a great impression with the voters of the state (consistently polling above 10%).  Now she's threatening Senator Feinstein's supposedly safe seat.  Could this pose a threat to her?  Some high-profile Democrats have even endorsed Benjamin because of Feinstein's moderate reputation, including Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette.  The divide among the left has not gone unnoticed by the Republican in the race, former Congressman Tom Campbell, who now holds a razor-thin (but consistent) lead over the incumbent Senator, who was thought invulnerable just weeks ago.  Can she turn it around in time for the election?  Many analysts caution that there is still lots of time to see what will happen in the race to be California's next Senator.

Dole Wins Iowa!
Dole: 37%
Bush: 36%
Keyes: 23%
Forbes: 3%



Forbes Takes Alaska!

Forbes: 35%
Dole: 33%
Bush: 27%
Keyes: 3%

[Jerseyrules]

Had Liddy run in 2000 in real life, she would have no doubt made Iowa her firewall, seeing as how her husband won the Iowa Caucus in 1988 with 37% of the vote, and seeing as how she was the  long-time First Lady of a near-neighboring state (Kansas).

Nice job. Looking forward to seeing whether or not Liddy can make hay against Bush outside Iowa and caucus states. Will be interesting because it seems they both have similar bases of support w/in the GOP.

Thanks man, I really appreciate it.

Also, if anyone has any comments, criticisms, nitpicks, or suggestions, they're more than welcome.

[Jerseyrules]

Senator Weld Barnstorms for Whitman in NH!

Lieberman Takes Iowa!

Lieberman: 50%
Wellstone: 49%

There is little doubt that the Wellstone campaign was dealt a major blow by their narrow loss in Iowa.  Senator Wellstone needed to win there to secure crucial momentum, running against an incumbent vice president.  However, it should also be noted that the victory was incredibly narrow, and Vice President Lieberman cannot rest easy.  Senator Wellstone can still win if he performs well in New Hampshire and on Super Tuesday, but he will need to overcome a 2-1 spending gap and a 15% lead in order to take the Live Free or Die State, and the Senator will have his work cut out for him in this race.
- excerpt from the Washington Post

[Jerseyrules]

I'd see Wellstone with the advantage in Iowa due to his state being neighbors & both being farm states. Lieberman, on the other hand is from New England, so NH should be easier for him. That's my 2 cents anyway. I'd like to see it come down to a Hillary v. O'Bama race, but of course with a Lieberman victory.

For the first part, I mostly agree, but under the circumstances, it's literally a margin of about 200 votes.  This is after Joe outspent Wellstone by about 20:1, and a last-minute blitzkrieg of attack ads.  But what's this about Obama and Hill?

[Jerseyrules]

I'd see Wellstone with the advantage in Iowa due to his state being neighbors & both being farm states. Lieberman, on the other hand is from New England, so NH should be easier for him. That's my 2 cents anyway. I'd like to see it come down to a Hillary v. O'Bama race, but of course with a Lieberman victory.

For the first part, I mostly agree, but under the circumstances, it's literally a margin of about 200 votes.  This is after Joe outspent Wellstone by about 20:1, and a last-minute blitzkrieg of attack ads.  But what's this about Obama and Hill?

He desires a neck-and-neck campaign that will go through all 50 states, with Lieberman winning the pledged delegates narrowly.

Oh.  Thanks for clarifying that

Yeah, it's going to come pretty down-to-the-wire on both sides, and definitely in the general

[Jerseyrules]

Shameless self-bump

[Jerseyrules]

Wellstone Takes NH!

Wellstone: 51%
Lieberman: 49%

"HOW THE F-CK DID THIS HAPPEN?!"
"Well, Joe, you outspent him 5-1, but you didn't make many stops there after Iowa-"
"I WAS ON A GODDAMN TRADE MISSION TO CHINA!  ON BEHALF OF THE F-CKING PRESIDENT!  HE'S NOT DOING sh**t FOR ME EITHER!  JOHN, WHERE THE  DO WE GO FROM HERE?!  THIS IS GONNA ING DRAG OUT WAY PAST SUPER TUESDAY!!"
"Joe, you gotta calm down.  Listen.  We can still win big in Delaware, we can win Washington, and kick his ass on Super Tuesday.  He'll have no choice but to endorse you after that."
"I hope you're right, John."

Whitman Takes NH!
Whitman: 39%
Dole: 36%
Bush: 27%

Jesse Ventura Calls it Quits; Says Will Focus on Governing.

"I would like to thank all of you who supported me, and we've done a great job keeping extremist elements out of our party so far.  But I have made a personal decision to suspend my campaign for president this year.  I have to focus on running the state of Minnesota, and I intend to serve out my term as governor before trying to leapfrog into higher office.  However, the fight against the extremists in the Reform Party is not over, and we must prevent Pat Buchanan from taking this party down a path to suicide."

Trump Enters Race for Reform Party Nomination - is he Just a Placeholder for Ventura?

"I have decided to endorse Donald Trump for the Reform Party's nomination.  This is because of his commitment to Ross Perot's principles of smart government, as well as his status as a non-politician.  I think he's the best man to lead our party and our country, and the best chance to get the Reform Party back into the debates, and once we get there, there's no stopping common sense from reaching the voters."
Some believe the Governor's decision to endorse Trump shows confirms rumors that Trump is only a placeholder to keep the party's federal funding so that Ventura can run for president in 2004, though Governor Ventura denies any such accusations.

[Jerseyrules]

C'mon, Joe!

Waddaya think so far?

[Jerseyrules]

C'mon, Joe!

Waddaya think so far?

I like it.

Thanks .  Update coming soon.

[Jerseyrules]

Dole wins Delaware!

Dole: 37%
Bush: 34%
Forbes: 25%

Lieberman Takes Delaware!

Lieberman: 54%
Wellstone: 42%
Uncommitted: 5%

Dole Crushes Bush in South Carolina!

Dole: 57%
Bush: 38%
Keyes: 5%

Wellstone Takes Washington in Nail-Biter!

Wellstone: 52%
Lieberman: 47%

Image of Wellstone linked from "Ghost in the Machine" deleted because it gave Goohle Chrome malware alerts for the page; my apologies for the inconvenience. -BK

"Dammit Karl!  You f**kin said we'd sweep South Carolina!  You f**kin said it was our last chance to kick that bitch's ass!"
"With all due respect, Governor, we had to focus on later states, and people didn't take to kindly to that last-minute blitzkrieg of negative ads."
"Well, where do we go from here?  Can we still win?"
"Governor, in all honesty I don't see that happening.  The best thing to do now would be to endorse Dole and suspend your campaign, especially if you don't want to see Whitman as our nominee."
"God f**king dammit.  You think I'd get VP?"
"Not if you stay in any longer."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Today, I am announcing my withdrawal from the Republican primaries in support of the next president of the United States, Elizabeth Dole.  Governor Dole has the experience and integrity we need to restore America, and she is the best remaining candidate.  So I encourage all of my former supporters to cast your votes for Governor Dole so that we can ensure a conservative is nominated, and we get a candidate that really deserves that "R" next to her name.  Thank you, God bless you, and God Bless America!"

[Jerseyrules]

I'm gonna miss the idea of having Karl Rove at the center of the political battle from 2001 to 2009. Oh Well, go Dole! And Lieberman!

Don't worry about rove, he'll be back, as will W. 

[Jerseyrules]

With the weight of the conservatives and establishment now behind her, Dole was now determined to crush Whitman.  She easily trounced "miss-moderate" in Arizona, Michigan, then proceeded to annihilate her in every contest leading up to Super Tuesday.  Dole cruised to an easy victory on Super Tuesday, winning a majority of delegates needed for the nomination, as Whitman barely won Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  With her devastating defeat, Whitman endorsed Dole, who became the presumptive nominee.

Final Republican Results by State:

Yellow = Forbes, Blue = Dole, Green = Whitman (all grey states uncontested, as Dole had no remaining opponents)

However, the Democratic contests were not decided so easily.  Super Tuesday was considered a draw by the press.  While Lieberman won American Samoa, his home state of Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, and Rhode Island, Senator Wellstone took California, Hawaii, Idaho (Caucus), Maryland, New York, North Dakota, Vermont, and the Washington Caucus.  Now, playtime was over.  Lieberman began a blitz of campaigning across the remaining states, bringing in heavyweights like Senator John McCain of Arizona, President Clinton, and Governor Zell Miller of Georgia.  The Vice President cruised to an easy victory in South Carolina, then narrowly lost Colorado and Utah.  He then went on to win Arizona and the Michigan Caucus, while Wellstone took his home state of Minnesota.  Wellstone narrowly won Nevada, and then the Vice President's strategy began to turn the tide.  He finally began to widen the delegate gap between him and his opponent on March 14, when he crushed Wellstone in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.  This was the moment Lieberman was waiting for.  He began to bury Wellstone under an avalanche of negative ads, claiming that now that Lieberman was far ahead in money, polls, and delegates, the nomination was his by right.  He could now campaign against an insurgent, who would weaken the nominee in November.  Yet Wellstone pledged to continue the fight to the convention if need be, and began campaigning as the underdog.  Lieberman won a nail-biter in Illinois, and then was soundly defeated by Wellstone in Wyoming.  Lieberman cruised to victory in the Delaware Caucus before winning another crucial victory in Pennsylvania, then facing another defeat in Wisconsin.  This back-and-forth continued through April and May, with Lieberman taking the Virginia Caucus, then Wellstone winning the Alaska Caucus.  Lieberman won DC, Indiana, and North Carolina, while Wellstone took Nebraska.  The Vice President then took West Virginia before being defeated again in Oregon.  Lieberman took Arkansas and Kentucky while Wellstone took Idaho.  Finally, with victories in Alabama, New Jersey, and New Mexico, Lieberman had the delegates necessary to clinch the Democratic nomination.

Final Democratic Results by State:

Wellstone = Green, Lieberman = Red

[Jerseyrules]

Questions comments concerns critiques etc?

[Jerseyrules]

The next step for both candidates would be the veepstakes.  Dole would choose Senator Al D'Amato of New York while Lieberman chose Governor Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.  As the candidates ramped up their game for the general election, observers would see a very close election on the way.  By August, it became clear that the election would be decided by Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan (the latter two being close, but with a Democratic edge.)  By September, the election was in full-swing.  The debates between the candidates were the most-watched ever, and featured Lieberman and Dole on their a-game, with neither being able to gain the upper hand.  Though Lieberman had a boring voice, he was able to get an audience riled up with the content of his speeches, while Dole had no trouble with speeches and debates.  The major factor in the election of 2000 was the Clinton presidency.  While Dole would quietly crusade for family values in the wake of Lewinskygate, Lieberman would shore up his support by reminding independents and Bible-thumpers that he was the first Democrat to come out against the president in the wake of the scandal, though he had cast the tie-breaking vote to prevent the president's impeachment.  Meanwhile, Lieberman would campaign hard on the economic prosperity of the 90's, the surplus, and keeping it intact while providing some tax cuts to those who need and deserve it.  The percentage of undecided voters shrank rapidly, and each candidate turned to campaigning in the three crucial states of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.  While Liddy focused her efforts on winning over "Reagan Democrats" in these states, Lieberman concentrated on Get-Out-The-Vote efforts.  While Dole focused on gaining support for Congressional Republicans, Lieberman focused almost all of his resources (and the DNC's) on his presidential campaign.  Lieberman's was proving to be more effective as he inched his way up in the polls, finally pulling ahead of Dole after she held a narrow lead in the polls most of the summer.  However, they would still have to contend with the Reform Party, as Donald Trump maintined a consistent 5-7% of voters in the polls, and Nader held about 3-5% as well.  Both major party campaigns largely ignored them, however, turning the bulk of their attention (and passive-aggressive attacks) on each other.

[Jerseyrules]

One nitpick - wasn't Casey dead by 2000?

He died in August (?) 2000.  Regardless, Casey's one of my favorite Democratic politicians.  I would even compare him to RFK, and if he had run in 96 otl, (as he was considering), he would've resembled the senator from New York even more.