A New Century, A New Leader

[HarrisonL]

I will be continuing this timeline.

[HarrisonL]

September 2003

September 1st - President Gore signs a bill authorising Martial Law upon the American Puppet State in Iraq. Some Human Rights groups condemn him, meanwhile Republicans say he is trying to act as a Conservative to win the election, they say he is not sincere.

September 10th - President Gore and Vice President Bradley make their first campaign stop in New Hampshire. Gore announces his full campaign schedule for the upcoming election.

September 11th - Senator George Bush speaks in New York a memorial service for 9/11, President Gore attacks Bush saying he is "Politicising Tragedy".

September 27th - Tom Latham announces the end of his Presidential run after just 3 months of campaigning. He announces he's running for another house term in 2004.

[HarrisonL]

October 2003

October 5th - President Gore vetoes the Defense of Marriage Act that passes the House and Senate, the majority of the 2004 Republican Presidential candidates attack President Gore as an opponent of Christian dignity.

October 9th - Fmr Congressman JC Watts holds a presidential rally in Ames, Iowa where the Straw Poll shows him faring well against the other 6 remaining candidates. Watts stressed the history of the Republican Party as the party of Civil Rights, and stressed the importance of global affairs. "The Republican Party has been with African Americans every step of the way, what has the President done for blacks like me?"

October 31st - The First Republican Debate takes place, all 7 remaining candidates are present. Senator Bush is viewed as the winner of the debate by the consensus of the Morning Consult Poll.

[HarrisonL]

November 2003 of the Gore Administration

(Note: Gray Davis isn't recalled as Governor in this timeline)
(Followup Elections to the 1999 Gubernatorial Elections that were listed in the first post of this Alternate History)

November 6th - The Kentucky and Mississippi Gubernatorial Elections are on this day. Both states are represented by Democratic Governors, many Republicans consider this Gubernatorial Election a bell-weather for the Presidential race next year.

Kentucky Governor (GOP GAIN)

(Winner) (R) Ernie Fletcher (60%)
(D) Ben Chandler (40%)

Mississippi Governor (GOP HOLD)

(Winner) (R) Mike Parker (inc) (54%)
(D) Ronnie Musgrove (42%)

November 7th - Republicans claim a 2004 Red Wave is imminent after the results of the Gubernatorial Elections. The Louisiana Gubernatorial Election Runoff will be the last election of the year.

November 15th - The Louisiana Gubernatorial Election Runoff

Louisiana Governor Runoff (GOP HOLD)

(Winner) (R) Bobby Jindal (53%)
(D) Kathleen Blanco (47%)

[HarrisonL]

December 2003 of the Gore Administration

December 3rd - President Gore signs the Economic Stimulus Act of 2003, a bill widely criticised by Repuublican Congressional Leaders. Despite Congress being controlled by Republicans, enough Centrist Republicans voted with Democrats to pass the Stimulus. With the Economy Relatively Poor throughout 2003, President Gore hoped the bill would bring the economy and the Democratic Party back into favour with the Republic.

December 10th - The US Consolate in the Puppet State of Iraq is blown up by Terrorists killing the Iraqi Ambassador to the United States who was meeting with the US Ambassador there. The Iraqi Government claims the attack was fabricated by the US on their own embassy to make the Iraqis look responsible to merit another coalition war, something President Gore and NATO deny.

December 31st - President Gore addresses the Nation after a horrific shooting that killed 54 people, Gore says he will work with Congressional Democrats to restore the Federal Prohibition on Assault Rifles.

[HarrisonL]

January 2004 of the Gore Administration

January 19th - President Al Gore wins the 2004 Iowa Democratic Caucus unopposed, marking the beginning of the 2004 Election Season.

The Iowa Republican Caucus - The Battle between the 7 Candidates

Candidates Reminder

Sen. George Bush
Sen. John McCain
Fmr Rep. JC Watts
Gov. John Engler
Gov. Mike Leavitt
Sen. Jesse Helms
Sen. Bill Frist

Dropped

Rep. Tom Latham

In Iowa native Representative Tom Latham appeared to be the initial favourite, but he soon dropped out of the race, however early voting had already begun before he dropped, meaning he would likely still receive a solid portion of the vote. In the straw poll JC Watts had done rather well in urban parts of Iowa among moderate voters. Meanwhile Conservatives in Iowa had rallied behind Senator No and Senator George W. Bush. Bush campaigned extensively throughout Western Iowa.

Results

George W. Bush (23.4%)
JC Watts (19.8%)
Jesse Helms (15%)
Tom Latham (14.4%) (Dropped before contest)
John McCain (12%)
Bill Frist (5.7%)
John Engler (5.5%)
Mike Leavitt (4.2%)

After the Primary Bush declared victory and quickly took the lead as the Primary Frontrunner. Senator John McCain, after poorly underperforming polls that predicted he was the primary frontrunner, dropped out of the Presidential Race and endorsed JC Watts.

Senator Bill First decided to drop out of the race. Soon after George W. Bush announced that Bill Frist would be his running mate on his Presidential ticket, even though he still faced a highly competitive primary.

Governor Mike Leavitt also dropped out and endorsed the Bush/Frist ticket.

January 20th - President Gore and Vice President Bradley enter their fourth year in office with mixed approval ratings, the 2004 Presidential and Congressional Elections have the nation drawn into phase of wonder, as both parties desire to hold the White House.

January 27th - The New Hampshire Primary was the second major Presidential Primary, and each remaining Republican Candidate campaigned extensively in the race.

(To be finished later today)