A Different Southern Lock: Bill Clinton chooses Douglas Wilder

What If during the summer of 1992, Bill Clinton decides against the young senator from Tennesse and picks the newly elected govenor Douglas Wilder of Virgina? How Might this effect the outcome of the race? Does Douglas run in 2000? What other Intangibles may develop in TTL?
 
As an (interesting?) aside the two people the Clinton campaign feared most in the 1992 primary campaign were Mario Cuomo—for obvious reasons: his appeal to liberals, rhetorical gifts, and money raising ability—and Douglas Wilder as they figured that Wilder would weaken them too much in the South to compete properly against a Northern candidate.



As for the actual question, I don't believe Wilder was ever considered. Assuming that he was and ends as VP Clinton probably still wins. Ross Perot pulled off too many voters from Bush and not enough from Clinton.

As Clinton didn't win the blue-collar vote anyway, losing a few more (primarily in the Appalachians, as exit polling from the 2008 Democratic primary indicates that's where most of the "won't vote for a black man" population is) isn't a big deal and Wilder should spike black turnout.


The first thing that comes to mind is the power dynamics inside the White House: how well will Wilder stand up to Hillary, and how much will he push for his own stuff? (Incidentally having Wilder on board might make passing some of Clinton's legislative agenda easier—Clinton was rarely on good relations with the Black Caucus in the House.)


The second thing is, as you mentioned, 2000. It's possible, probable, that somebody mounts a very stiff primary challenge to Wilder (if he chooses to run for the 2000 nomination), in fact I would suspect a 1988 type race with a number of fairly good candidates coming in.

As with Obama a black man at the top of the ticket in 2000 would energize the black vote and Wilder seems a more appealing figure than Gore—assuming he's still up against Bush (a moderately large but not unreasonable assumption) I doubt Bush wins.


As for Wilder himself, he only had the (legally limited to) one term as Virginia's Governor and is now Mayor of Richmond so you'd have to take a look at those records for what kind of President he might be.
 
As an (interesting?) aside the two people the Clinton campaign feared most in the 1992 primary campaign were Mario Cuomo—for obvious reasons: his appeal to liberals, rhetorical gifts, and money raising ability—and Douglas Wilder as they figured that Wilder would weaken them too much in the South to compete properly against a Northern candidate.



As for the actual question, I don't believe Wilder was ever considered. Assuming that he was and ends as VP Clinton probably still wins. Ross Perot pulled off too many voters from Bush and not enough from Clinton.

As Clinton didn't win the blue-collar vote anyway, losing a few more (primarily in the Appalachians, as exit polling from the 2008 Democratic primary indicates that's where most of the "won't vote for a black man" population is) isn't a big deal and Wilder should spike black turnout.


The first thing that comes to mind is the power dynamics inside the White House: how well will Wilder stand up to Hillary, and how much will he push for his own stuff? (Incidentally having Wilder on board might make passing some of Clinton's legislative agenda easier—Clinton was rarely on good relations with the Black Caucus in the House.)


The second thing is, as you mentioned, 2000. It's possible, probable, that somebody mounts a very stiff primary challenge to Wilder (if he chooses to run for the 2000 nomination), in fact I would suspect a 1988 type race with a number of fairly good candidates coming in.

As with Obama a black man at the top of the ticket in 2000 would energize the black vote and Wilder seems a more appealing figure than Gore—assuming he's still up against Bush (a moderately large but not unreasonable assumption) I doubt Bush wins.


As for Wilder himself, he only had the (legally limited to) one term as Virginia's Governor and is now Mayor of Richmond so you'd have to take a look at those records for what kind of President he might be.

Well he won't be mayor much longer, he's decided not to seek reelection.

Anyway, living near Richmond, I can give some highlights of his mayoral term. His biggest success was in the crime department, with Chief Rodney Monroe he significantly reduced murders and turned Richmond around from being one of the most dangerous cities in the US. However, his tenure has been marked with extensive conflict with the School Board and with City Council. The Council and Wilder did not get along too well at all. At one point, Wilder wanted the School Board offices to be moved out of City Hall, but the Council wouldn't let him, so he back moving trucks up to City Hall at night and tried to forcibly evict the School Board offices. It didn't work, but it illustrates the conflict and lack of compromise.
 
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