1976: Udall/Bumpers vs. Ford/Dole

[pragmatic liberal]

The Democrats nominate Rep. Morris Udall of Arizona for President and Sen. Dale Bumpers of Arkansas for Vice President.

The Republican nominations for President and Vice President are the same as in real life.

Who wins? Maps?

Udall/Bumpers: 53% PV, 338 EV
Ford/Dole: 46% PV, 200 EV

[Lincoln Republican]

A squeaker of an election. 

The Republicans had occupied the White House since 1969, and the electorate was more than willing to look at a reasonable alternative.

Ford's pardon of Nixon comes back to haunt him in the election. 

Udall offers solid and experienced leadership for the nation.  Udall's Mormonism does not become a major issue in the campaign.  Udall is a non practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sometimes referred to as the Mormon Church. 

Unlike many intolerants and bigots in 2007 who prefer to attack Romney's Mormonism, in 1976, the fact that Udall was a Mormon is not exploited by to any degree by the fear mongers and cranks in the nation.

Both Bumpers and Dole prove to be excellent running mates.  Bumpers helps greatly in delivering the upper south states of Kentucky and Tennessee, and is the decisive factor in delivering his home state of Arkansas.  All of these states prove to be crucial to the Udall/Bumpers victory in the election.

A heartbreaking loss for Ford.

The man who said "I'm a one-eyed Mormon Democrat from conservtive Arizona, and you can't have a higher handicap than that" is elected President of the United States, just barely, but elected nonetheless.   

Udall/Bumpers          271
Ford/Dole                 267

In actual fact, had the Democrats nominated Udall for President in 1976, and had he gone on to win the election, which is likely, the nation would have been far better served than it was under the bungling, incompetent, political joke known as Jimmy Carter.   

[WalterMitty]

that map looks about right, winfield.

i have a few remarks.,,

i think udall and bumpers could have carried louisiana as well.

what about vermont and maine?  i know in 76 both were still strongly republican.  but wasnt udall pretty strong on environmental issues?  couldnt that have had some impact in vt and me...even in 76?

[Lincoln Republican]

Walter, thank you for your comments.

Of any other southern state in 1976, you're right, Louisiana would have been a possibility for a Udall/Bumpers ticket.  However, given Udall's liberal record and reputation, even with Bumpers on the ticket, from a neighboring state, I personally doubt Louisiana would have gone to Udall in 1976.  Udall would have been the one at the top of the ticket, who the voters are most looking at, and I doubt even Bumpers could have had enough influence to have shifted the state to Udall.

You're right as well about Udall and the environment.  Udall was responsible for the enactment of several environmentally friendly acts being brought forward and passed by the House.  In fact, as you are no doubt aware, there is the Morris K. Udall Foundation, which offers scholarships to students who are pursuing studies on the environment, as well as in other fields, and which works toward the education of a new generation of Americans in the preservation and protection of the environment, among other things.

This record would certainly not have hurt Udall in Maine and Vermont in 1976, however, given Ford's record as a moderate Republican, I still believe Upper New England would have gone, all three states, to Ford.  Udall would have run better in Upper New England in 1976 than did Carter, and Udall would have made these states more competetive, but, in the end, I believe they would have been won by Ford.

By the way Walter, do you agree with my concluding remarks, which I added under the map, about Udall and Carter?   

[WalterMitty]

oh yes.  i certainly agree that udall would have been a better president than carter.

[12th Doctor]

A Mormon as President?

That'll be the day.

[Lincoln Republican]

A Mormon as President?

That'll be the day.

Grow up, bigot!

[WalterMitty]

udall's western roots and environmentalism helps him out in the west.

udall/bumpers: 306
ford/dole: 232

[Lincoln Republican]

I see everyone who has made a map or stated a winner has picked the Mormon as the winner.

That must really irk Pierre Cardinal La Croix.

Oh, now, that's just toooooooo bad!

[12th Doctor]

A Mormon as President?

That'll be the day.

Grow up, bigot!

Did we not detect a hint of ironic humor there

[DownWithTheLeft]

Udall paves the way for Mormons in America (and possibly eventually Mitt Romney) with a landmark victory.

Udall is defeated in 1980 by Gov. Ronald Reagan after having a good but not oustanding first-term.  America is intrigued by Reagan's new ideas and Udall's controversial decision to send the military in to rescue the hostages from Iran backfires when one of the hostages is killed in the takeover.  It is a much closer election than actual 1980:

This could make an interesting timeline

[Lincoln Republican]

A Mormon as President?

That'll be the day.

Grow up, bigot!

Did we not detect a hint of ironic humor there

Yes, I can accept that, Your Eminence.

[gorkay]

I don't remember anyone making an issue of Udall's religion in 1976. He probably would have won, possibly by a bigger margin than Carter did. I believe that just about any Democrat would have won in '76, and just about anyone other than Carter would have won more easily.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

BUMP

Morris K. Udall/Dale Bumpers (D): 320 EV, 53% of the PV
Gerald R. Ford/Bob Dole (R): 218 EV, 47% of the PV

Congressman Udall defeats incumbent President Ford to become 39th President of the United States. Udall's strength in the West is helped with Bumpers ability to bring in the northern part of the South to secure a comfortable victory over Ford.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Why would Udall do just as well in the South as Carter, a native son?

[Lief 🗽]

No way a Mormon Democrat is winning the Deep South in 1976.

[Хahar 🤔]

How'd Utah look, PV-wise?