Say VP Al Gore is assassinated mid, late 1999, or thereabouts -- pure nutjob with nonsensical motivations who got too close with a weapon, etc. Shortly thereafter John McCain has heart trouble, and withdraws from the race. How do the Democratic and Republican races play out?
For example, is it possible w/o McCain that Steve Forbes stands a chance against Bush? Who are the leading candidates for the Dems -- Evan Bayh? Joe Biden? John Kerry? Someone else? Or does Bill Bradley actually stand a fair chance of taking the nomination in this situation?