Ok. This is probably totally out of left field but here goes.
On a link, from a link, from a link on wiki, I cam across McLean Stevenson, who played Colonel Blake in M*A*S*H for three seasons.
Could he become president of the United States in 1980?
His family was endowed in the Democratic Party boasting numerous positions in the state of Illinois as well as a Vice President and Presidental hopefulls.
Short timeline.
Still riding his success from M*A*S*H which he left in the early stages of the 74/75 season, Stevenson decides to enter the race for the United States House of Representatives in Illinois on the back of his popularity and family heritage. In the wake of the Watergate crisis, Stevenson becomes one of the 49 Democrat 'Watergate babies' (and one of the 3-5 new Democrats from Illinios) to take a seat in the House of Reps.
Ford manages to just pip Carter for President in 1976 and the country goes through all the same crisis and failures that it experienced during Carter in the economy and foreign policy.
Bob Dole, the incumbant Republican VP was nomited for President in 1980 after a strong, but ultimately unsuccessful challenge from Ronald Reagan. However Dole was hampered by his personality, the challenge from Reagan and political baggage from the Ford administration.
Stevenson decides now, to try for the nomination, stating: "I have to leave [the house] and be number one."*
McLean Stevenson preparing for an interview during the Democratic primaries.
He starts a populist campaign in the primaries, portraying himself as having his former M*A*S*H character traits to try and appeal to the Democratic base, such the blue collar workering votes which had been defecting to he Republican party under Nixon. Stressing his easygoing, friendly and laid back manner, such as fly-fishing and golfing, 'to be a friend to the nation', to help 'the average joe' which contrasted to that of the Nixonian [and tarring Ford with the same brush, even if not really the case]... brand of political hardball. Some moderate Republicans and middle american Republicans began to switch as Stevenson was seen as being generally centerist, without drifting to far to the left, or to the right as the Republican Party.
Ted Kennedy was in the race also, however Stevenson's supporters spun a 'remember Chappaquiddick' camapign, that although not fatal to the Kennedy bid, was damaging. Jerry Brown from California garnered support as well, however his supporters were bleeding him votes from the center and right because of supporting figures such as Jane Fonda and Jesse Jackson and a disasterous live to air commericial directed by Francis Ford Coppola that shattered his campaign.** After a long campaign, Walter Mondale was selected as Stevenson's running mate after it became clear (and later confirmed at the convention) that Stevenson would be the Democratic nominee.
The election loomed!
*This extracted from a quote he reportedly said to Loretta Swit on leading M*A*S*H, OTL.
**Never knew about that, bizarre and went as OTL.
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Few things.

In this 1980, the electorate is getting naturally tired of the Republican Party which has been in office since 1968. Inflation, energy crisis and the bad feelings towards a still Republican Whitehouse are fueling a call 'for change' by now.
Quite frankly, what Stevenson's real political leanings were, I don't know. I thought it might make an interesting little distraction. Serving in the House would be neccessary to gain Washington experience. I can surmise that his time was spent as a centerist, fiscal conservative Democrat, not pushing the boundries either side of the spectrum, solid but pretty boring.
By appealing to the traditional base of the Democrats (white, blue collar workers) Stevenson is stemming that flow of votes that Nixon and Reagan managed to connect with (if somewhat differently). In a way, he might be described loosely as a 'blue dog democrat' or 'new democrats' (more likely the former I think) today.
I see him maybe as sort of something akin to a Democratic Party 'Eisenhower' in terms of policy so far (and projected) with a celebrity baggage something (but lesser) to that of a Reagan.