2000 Democratic Candidate in Dole Wins TL

Assuming Dole pulls off a near-miracle victory over Clinton in 1996 (with, say, the Lewinsky scandal coming out early, or something else that will give Dole the victory), who can the Democrats mount to challenge him in 2000?

I don't want this to be a discussion of how Dole can win in 1996, only about who is likely to run against him when the next election rolls around.
 
Former Vice President Gore would probably be the frontrunner, although whether he would actually win the nomination is a different story. Other than that, you'd just have the usual crowd. Dick Gephardt, Joe Biden, etc.
 
Gore would certainly be the frontrunner, and would represent the party's centrists. I doubt any other DLC'ers are going to be too vocal about challenging him on this front, but if any are, there's always Joe Lieberman or Chuck Robb who could provide a good Republican Lite challenge for the the nomination.

As for the party's liberals, I suppose you have the usual crowd. Gephardt, as Minority Leader of the House would be one of the frontrunners. There's also Senator Bill Bradley, Senator Paul Wellstone, and of course, Dennis Kucinich who might make a bid.
 
Robb had too much baggage and had barely gotten re-elected in 94 over Oliver North.

Wellstone didn't run OTL because he had MS and didn't think he would be up to the strain.

Gore starts as the frontrunner for sure, but he is much more vulnerable TTL because Clintonism would be seen as having been a failure. A challenge from the left would be seen as much more viable to succeed ITTL and you'd see more people attempting to challenge Gore from that wing of the party. Bradley would be there as OTL, but also Kerry, Gephardt, Kerrey, and Jesse Jackson as a gadfly candidate. If those guys split the left, Gore wins.
 
You know, now that I think about it, I seem to remember that Bob Casey (Senior, of course) was considering giving Clinton a token challenge in 1996. He didn't becuase he had some sort of health problems IIRC. I'm not sure when he died, but if he were still alive I could see him maybe challenging Gore.
 
Bob Casey Sr. was diagnosed with amyloidosis in the early 90s, and it was his health that led him to decide against the run in 1996. He died on May 30, 2000.
 
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