Shattered

[_]

I had a bit of an off topic request/idea for this TL.  If anyone here (or NHI) knows President Infinity, could you make a scenario for 2020 based off this TL?  I'd like to play as Baker to see if I can beat Trump in the primary (just incase Trump does win the primary in the TL). 

Just an idea is all, great job so far anyways.

[GoTfan]

I had a bit of an off topic request/idea for this TL.  If anyone here (or NHI) knows President Infinity, could you make a scenario for 2020 based off this TL?  I'd like to play as Baker to see if I can beat Trump in the primary (just incase Trump does win the primary in the TL). 

Just an idea is all, great job so far anyways.

Hmm. I'll have a crack at it.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Go Paul! Go Trump (just for the TL not for irl pls Nu)

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I had a bit of an off topic request/idea for this TL.  If anyone here (or NHI) knows President Infinity, could you make a scenario for 2020 based off this TL?  I'd like to play as Baker to see if I can beat Trump in the primary (just incase Trump does win the primary in the TL). 

Just an idea is all, great job so far anyways.

Hmm. I'll have a crack at it.

I guess I need to get Infinity soon. Nobody makes 08 scenarios anymore.

I'd definitely get Infinity to play this scenario. Have Hillary as "off" so you can alternate it and have her run instead of standing down.

[NHI]

Big Update by Sunday night.

[Senator Cris]

Bump!

[Lord Admirale]

This is very interesting; keep going!

[NHI]

This is very interesting; keep going!

Thank you!
Sorry back from vacation and have been swamped with work. Hope to have an update this week!

[NHI]

No!..

The lesson of 2016 for establishment Republicans, was the failure to rally behind one clear alternative to Donald Trump. In a bloated field consisting of Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie and John Kasich -
 all vying for the establishment mantle, Trump was able to rally his troops and block any opposition with little efforts. Moderate and mainstream Republicans are determined to avoid a repeat of 2016,
by uniting early behind one candidate. For Republicans the clear consensus candidate was the moderate-to-liberal governor of Massachusetts -- Charlie Baker, who just happened to be the most popular Governor in America.

The effort began in late fall, as Donald Trump proved once again to be more than passing fad. The defeated 2016 nominee was drawing large crowds and holding onto his strong base of support, which had never left him from the previous election.

Some mainstream conservatives saw Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse as the perfect alternative to Trump, but the freshman senator ended up proving a perfect foil for Trump.

In Sept. Trump and Sasse were close in IA: 34% to 29%, by Nov, Trump lead 37% to 21%

The Nebraska Senator, who avoided engaging with Trump directly (leaving the insult to Baker) hoped by uniting grassroots conservatives he could swamp Trump early in Iowa and win the caucuses, but unfortunately Sasse's demeanor, and propensity for a holier than thou persona played right into Trump's hand. Quickly mocked on his appearance "he reminds me a skinny rat," Trump remarked multiple times on the stump, "which makes sense given where he comes from."

Even Conservative commentator and soft supporter of Sasse, Bill Kristol lamented the Nebraska Senator "is probably no match for Trump on the school yard bully grounds". By the holidays Sasse's numbers collapsed in Iowa and he dropped in the polls; leaving him to battle for crumbs along with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who also proved incapable of catching lightning in a bottle twice.

Shortly, before Thanksgiving, Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley ended her bid for the Republican nomination, and threw her support behind Charlie Baker -- the first sign the establishment was breaking for the Massachusetts Governor. The only other candidate who could claim the establishment mantle was Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, but he struggled to find his footing on the campaign, despite his impressive resume. He remained determined to fight until at least Iowa, but most pundits speculated his campaign would be out of air by Christmas - they were wrong. He was deflated by Thanksgiving, but he languished in single digits until the Iowa vote -- when his exit became not only necessary, but a reality.

Dec. NH Poll: Trump: 37% Baker: 23% Paul: 17%

Quickly, the race began shifting towards a Baker/Trump cage match, with Senator Rand Paul serving a possible wild card, and Sasse and Cruz fighting for scraps.

By Jan. Trump's lead nationally read 40%.

As the field began to sort itself out, Trump's lead cemented nationally and in many of the early states, while Baker's numbers began to rise in New Hampshire. "Stopping Trump, means stopping him in New Hampshire," declared Republican strategist Stuart Stevens. Yet, once again, the establishment class failed to step outside the bubble. To stop Trump, meant more than defeating him in the second contest, it meant stopping him before the first votes were cast.

Republican Governor of CT, Joe Scarborough blasted Republicans for 'once again underestimating Trump and the populist right'

Despite Trump's crushing loss to President Hillary Clinton in 2016, his supporters remained fervent,
 and if anything more devoted to their candidate. "Trump has been betrayed by the party establishment," said Pat Buchanan. "This happened way back at the Republican convention four years ago. They threw him under the bus and now its coming back to bite them in the rear. The people are still angry and Trump is the only speaking to and for them."

While, moderate Republicans collectively waited for the fall of the Trump campaign (much like they did to disappointment in 2016), even those in the establishment class backing Baker were beginning to white knuckle as 2020 started to resemble 2016 all over again.


"Oh. My. God."

✓ Donald Trump Wins Iowa Caucuses

✓ Donald Trump: 42.06%

Ben Sasse: 16.55%
Tom Cotton: 14.54%
Rand Paul: 14.01%
Ted Cruz: 10.51%
Charlie Baker: 2.33%

Following IA, a NH poll put Trump far ahead of Baker: 44% to 26%.

[_]

Oh dear god....

[TheSaint250]

How?!?!

[Lord Admirale]

Please no

[mvd10]

pls go nuclear

[NHI]

GOP Unites To Stop Trump (*Hopefully)

Donald Trump's landslide win in Iowa, rocked the Republican Party to its core. A collection of self-appointed and self-congratulating establishment types, believed Trump would bring himself down, in part because of fatigue, and his own personal baggage. Charlie Baker, remained the most vocal Trump opponent from the start, but the party infrastructure largely kept mum and avoided engaging Trump directly for fear of a backlash from the populist right wing base.

Republicans thought by uniting early behind a single candidates, and building up support in the first few contests would be enough to blunt any Trump momentum or wins. No one was expected or prepared for the huge win in Iowa.

Paul Nips at Trump in New Hampshire

After a disappointing run in 2016, many believed Rand Paul would never seek the Presidency again,
 but he entered the 2020 race by hoping to unite more libertarian and independent voters than he had in his first race. Second, he was campaigning entirely in New Hampshire, a decision which had been downplayed in 2016. The state which had been receptive to his father, and seemed the perfect fit for his small government libertarian streak; Paul took to the Granite State in earnest, hoping in a smaller field he could perform better than before.

[Jaguar4life]

Paul 2020!

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Oh my god it's gonna be a repeat of 2016

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Haha nice!

[_]

So this is the price we pay for underestimating him, we should have been preparing attack ads against him from the moment 2016 ended.

[NHI]

Falling Kaine

President Hillary Clinton never endorsed publicly in the primary between Vice President Tim Kaine and Former Secretary of State Joe Biden, but sources in Clinton world hinted towards favoring Biden over Kaine, a dramatic state of events inside the Democratic Party and the primary.

"The consensus in the President's inner circle," said an unnamed source, "is Tim Kaine is unelectable. He is weak and wouldn't hold under under the pressure, even against Donald Trump."

Kaine, has long since stated his disdain for national politics and even during the 2016 campaign, seemed to be going through the motions. During a stump in Iowa, Kaine derided national campaigning saying in part, "I'm a doer, not a show pony."

As for Kaine's political prospects, the Vice President has remained stuck in third place, as Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren battle out for first place -- and thus the soul of the Democratic Party.

Kaine, much like Andrew Cuomo is seen to be holding the bags for the other two candidates, and is waiting to pick up the scraps if there are any -- the problem and reality for Kaine is Cuomo seems to be the better beneficiary of a fallout from a Biden-Warren fight -- not Kaine.

Bernie Backs Warren: "Time to Unite for Change"

In a political call to arms, Senator Bernie Sanders announced his support of Elizabeth Warren in a joint rally in Iowa; a state where the polls show a tight race between the Massachusetts Senator and the former Secretary of State and Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders called Warren, "a champion" and "a prized fighter for the middle class and the American people". He also called it past time for the revolution. "We cannot afford to wait another four or eight years, we need to act now, and with Senator Warren we have a future to believe in and future to make a reality!"

CNN/ORC POLL: Iowa Caucuses Poll (December 2019)

Joe Biden: 31%

Elizabeth Warren: 27%
Tim Kaine: 15%
Andrew Cuomo: 13%
Mark Cuban: 1%
Undecided: 13%

Warren: More than History

Hillary Clinton broke the glass ceiling in 2016, by becoming the first woman elected President of the United States. For Elizabeth Warren the historical symbolism of a woman nominee is over, but the Massachusetts Senator sees her candidacy as a something larger than identity politics. "I am running on a mission," she said. "Our country cannot be satisfied with the status quo and I think the majority of people are ready to transform this country in terms of health care, education, and economy." In a slight dig at the President, Warren said she 'has total respect and admiration for President Clinton' and said 'she has had to put up with an unprecedented assault from Republicans obstructionists in Congress.'

Asked to sum up her candidacy Warren said, "Change and renewal. Change is direction, change in policy, and renewal that the promise of this country will be kept and protected for all Americans."

✓ Elizabeth Warren Wins Iowa Caucuses

✓ Elizabeth Warren: 35.68%

Joe Biden: 31.97%
Tim Kaine: 16.04%
Andrew Cuomo: 15.88%
Mark Cuban: 0.1%
 Other: 0.33%

Trump Congratulates Warren on her Win

Stun and Defeat for Biden Campaign

"What the hell happened?" Joe Biden reportedly asked to his senior staff as the results came in from Iowa. The Former Secretary of State and Vice President entered the race for President the front runner, brushing aside Vice President Tim Kaine. The party infrastructure was uniting behind him, the money, and the path was clear. The polls were tight, but Biden was expected to narrowly prevail in the state. What his campaign thought would be a one to two point win became a crushing upset, which now puts Elizabeth Warren in the driver seat as the primary moves to New Hampshire, a state where Warren has long been favored, in part do to Massachusetts' proximity, and the intensity of former Bernie Voters.

Warren: "Donald Trump will never be President"

In a prelude to the general election, Elizabeth Warren began with an attack on Iowa Caucus winner Donald Trump. She blasted Trump as "a poster boy for gross incompetence" and pledged if she wins the nominee, "Donald Trump will only see the White House on TV." Warren, has largely avoided taking on Trump, or any Republican candidates during the primary, but after her surprise win in Iowa, the Warren Campaign is feeling a newfound confidence as the primary moves to New Hampshire where a new poll puts Warren in the lead with 43%, and Joe Biden at 34%.

Biden Campaign Shifts Focus to South Carolina as New Hampshire Slips Away

The Biden Campaign appears to writing off New Hampshire, or at the very least downplaying the importance of it. Following Iowa, the campaign jettisoned to South Carolina for a rally, rather than flying to New Hampshire. In typical Biden fashion, the former Secretary of State said to reporters on the plane, "New Hampshire is essentially a home state for Elizabeth Warren, so I'm going to head south and get things warmed up."

The Biden Campaign is still reeling from the shocking defeat to Elizabeth Warren in Iowa, but senior staff suggest the focus on South Carolina has always been in the campaign's trajectory. However, many Democrats fear Biden is ceding ground to Warren by giving up so easily on New Hampshire.

Kaine: "We're still in the fight"

The beleaguered Vice President, Tim Kaine took his third place medal in strides, but headed to New Hampshire to an early morning rally. The belief in the Kaine campaign is with Biden seemingly taking a pass on the state, the Vice President may have a second act in the campaign and quite possibly be able to compete with Elizabeth Warren. Current polls show his tied for third with Andrew Cuomo at 17%.

Baker and Trump: Mono a Mono

As Donald Trump took first place in Iowa, Charlie Baker was wrapping ups his 110th event in New Hampshire, hoping and praying his grassroots and traditional New Hampshire strategy will pay off big dividends for him when voters head to the polls on primary day. Baker, has been stepping up his attacks on Trump calling him 'unfit', 'traumatically damaged' and 'the worst con man going'.

Trump has responded in fashion, blasting Baker and his tenure as Massachusetts Governor, even floating a debunked story about Baker coming to his office in 2010 and "pleading for a big check to help his first failing campaign". The increased attacks and back and forth suggest a change in strategy among establishment Republicans terrified by the prospects of a second Donald Trump nomination. Baker has been playing his entire hand on winning New Hampshire and anything short of first place would be a bitter end for his campaign. Polls have shown some tightening, but Trump continues to hold onto his lead.

Trump's Warning

RNC: The Republican Party will not be 'held hostage' by any candidate.

BREAKING NEWS: Trump, Warren Lead in Exit Polls

New Hampshire Primary: ✓ Elizabeth Warren

[_]

Please no, this can't happen again.

CMON BAKER!

[NHI]

New Hampshire Primary: Too Close to Call

NH Primary: 25% Reporting

Donald Trump: 35.57% (+2.29)

Charlie Baker: 33.28%

Rand Paul: 19.65%
Tom Cotton: 4.61%
Ben Sasse: 3.01%
Ted Cruz: 2.98%
Other: 0.90%

[TheSaint250]

I want Baker to win so badly, but I don't think he will.

[Edgeofnight]

Baker vs Biden is the election this country deserves.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Baker vs Biden is the election this country deserves.

[NHI]

✓ Charlie Baker Wins New Hampshire Primary

✓ Charlie Baker: 35.01%
Donald Trump: 33.99%
Rand Paul: 19.43%
Tom Cotton: 4.22%
Ben Sasse: 2.98%
Ted Cruz: 1.88%

Donald Trump is refocusing his efforts to South Carolina and Nevada, two states he won in 2016 and two states he's fighting desperately to win in 2020. Despite a larger-than-expected victory in Iowa, Trump's upset loss to Charlie Baker has turned the GOP race on its head. In the first national poll after New Hampshire, Trump's lead has dropped considerably. He now leads the shrinking field with 33%, whereas Charlie Baker is now in second place with 26%.

Polls in Nevada show Trump leading anywhere from 40% to 45%, but in South Carolina where much of the party establishment is firmly now behind Baker, Trump's margins are shrinking. The latest CNN poll show Trump ahead 40% to Baker's 31%.

Tom Cotton Ends Campaign; Backs Baker

Senator Tom Cotton ended his campaign for President in a simple statement released by his staff.
 "I am suspending my bid for the Presidency, and endorsing Charlie Baker as the Republican nominee.
 Our party must unite and rather than continue to bludgeon each other we should be focusing on the general election and winning on the merits and principles that have made our party unique."

Ben Sasse: "No Plans to Drop Out"