With a POD of 1980, get Ann Richards to serve two full terms as POTUS by the time of her death. Furthermore, what would be the ramifications thereof?
AHC/WI: President Ann Richards
- Thread starter Sevarics
- Start date
He can win. Drew did a particularly good runthrough of possibilities.
There have been several timelines with President Richards. Most of them avoid Clinton as President, although I always thought getting her into office a term earlier would do the trick.
Anaxagoras
Banned
She wins reelection as Texas Governor in 1994. Clinton elects not to run for a second term due to some scandal or other becoming public and Richards wins the Democratic nomination. She beats Bob Dole in the presidential election and goes on to win reelection in 2000.
If Richards wins in 1994, I assume that GW Bush is not a viable candidated 2000.
(Does Texas have a 2 term Governor limit?)
In any event her name would be arounf for Pres or VP in 2000
(Does Texas have a 2 term Governor limit?)
In any event her name would be arounf for Pres or VP in 2000
There's no second place Clinton win in New Hampshire's primary, no Comeback Kid speech. Butterflies see to it that Jerry Brown doesn't tell a bunch of Jewish people that he's considering as Vice-President a man who once called New York "Hymietown". After a Brown-Tsongas slugfest, Brown wins the nomination, but the Jerry Brown/Douglas Wilder ticket ultimately goes down in defeat. The continuing presence of a Bush in Washington lessens the appeal of a Bush in Austin, and Richards pulls off another win in 1994. In 1996, the Democrats are looking for someone from middle America, after their recent coastal losers. Richards is a feisty speaker many remember from the 1988 DNC, and has won twice now in a southern, conservative state. She gets the nomination, with VP nominee Bob Kerrey. Despite the Republicans' best efforts, her opponent is Vice President Dan Quayle. Quayle makes his usual gaffes on the campaign trail, drawing attention away from anything substantive he might have to say. He doesn't say anything terrible during the debates, but Richards is surely the winner (there's also a feeling that the Vice President perhaps tried to talk down to the woman governor, which doesn't help him with that half of the voting population). Richards wins, carrying several southern states. Despite the possibility of a all-ladies election against Elizabeth Dole, Richards faces off against John McCain in 2000. The close-fought election all comes down to Florida, where after a week of recounts, the state goes for the President, ensuring her re-election. Tragically, former President Richards died from esophageal cancer just a year after leaving office.
If we can go back to 1980...
In '84, Ferraro (who was friends with Richards) requests she, not Cuomo, give the Keynote. The DNC hesitantly agrees and Richards impresses, propelling her to the TX Governors Mansion in '86. Reelected in '90, Richards makes a serious campaign against Clinton in '92 for the Dem. Nomination and wins. Another aggressive speech in '92 coupled with fatigue from 12 yrs of Republicans help her take down 41 and she serves 93-01.
In '84, Ferraro (who was friends with Richards) requests she, not Cuomo, give the Keynote. The DNC hesitantly agrees and Richards impresses, propelling her to the TX Governors Mansion in '86. Reelected in '90, Richards makes a serious campaign against Clinton in '92 for the Dem. Nomination and wins. Another aggressive speech in '92 coupled with fatigue from 12 yrs of Republicans help her take down 41 and she serves 93-01.
Or if we don't want to change her Keynote Address in 1988, You could see her become President in 1996 in a Dukakis/Bentsen wins TL. Although, Governor Bill Clements was a Republican and would appoint a republican to fill Bensten's vacated seat, Texas law requires that a special election must be called in the event of a vacancy. Attorney General Maddox was favored to win the Governorship IOTL '88-89, so Ann could step aside and run in the special election of 1989 for Senate. Assuming the Dukakis presidency goes down with the sour economy of 1992, it gives her a potential opening for either '96 or 2000 depending if she can secure her own term in her own right in '94. I think Ann would as she wouldn't have to take on some of the controversial stances she took as Governor during the early '90's so perhaps being a party-line voter could help insulate her long enough for a POTUS bid.