Dean wins nom in 2004

[Enderman]

Okay, lets just say that Dean wins enough primaries to win over Kerry. So, if he wins the nomination, does that mean he wins over Bush? Make maps, discuss, you guys know what to do.

[Enderman]

I'd say due to the fact that Dean wasn't your classical Democrat, he might have picked Kerry, or some moderate Democrat or even Kucinich to even out the ticket. He might have had a slight edge on Bush. He might have picked some other person on the bottom of the Republican ticket. If he kept Cheney, Dean might have actually won. I think it would be this:

Dean
Bush

[dudeabides]

Dean picks Wesley Clark for Vice President so he does not come across as just some anti-war candidate. Clark is able to help Dean in Virginia and North Carolina. But, while Clark helps make the race competitive, President Bush would portray Howard Dean as a liberal extremist in the same way he attacked Kerry as a flip-flop. While Clark does better than Edwards in a debate against Cheney, Dean is not effective against Bush in the debates, though he is on the trail. However, President Bush still would have the support he won as a war time President and as a steady leader. Bush also manages to carry Pennsylvania, something he did not do in 2000.

George W. Bush / Dick Cheney 52% 307 EV
Howard Dean / Wesley Clark 47% 231 EV
Other 1%

 

[JerryArkansas]

I have to give it to my family in winning this election.

[Enderman]

I have to give it to my family in winning this election.

What do you mean?

[JerryArkansas]

I have to give it to my family in winning this election.

What do you mean?

I mean that I think my family, bush, would win the race.

[fezzyfestoon]

There's no way Dean runs a campaign as bad as Kerry's, so I don't see much room for Bush in that scenario. Dean/Kerry would probably have been a solid ticket, I imagine Kerry would have been much better running for VP. Here's my crack at it:

Dean (D-VT)/Kerry (D-MA) - 278
Bush (R-TX)/Cheney (R-WY) - 260

[Cryptic]

Dean (D-VT)/Kerry (D-MA) - 278
Bush (R-TX)/Cheney (R-WY) - 260

This map, but replace Kerry with either Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack or Senator Tom Harkin. 

[SPC]

Dean (D-VT)/Kerry (D-MA) - 278
Bush (R-TX)/Cheney (R-WY) - 260

This map, but replace Kerry with either Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack or Senator Tom Harkin. 

This Tom Harkin?

[Cryptic]

This Tom Harkin?

Yes. The OP asked what if Dean won the primaries, so it's unlikely his infamous scream would've even happened in the events of this timeline. 

My choice for either Vilsack or Harkin is based on Dean trying to increase his odds of winning Iowa, since it was a swing state.