AH Challenge: President Debs (S-IN)

Inspired by the recent TR '12 thread, your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to have Eugene Debs, the perennial Socialist presidential candidate in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1920, elected President of the United States. The rules are simple:

* Eugene Debs must be elected as a Socialist (be it Social Democratic Party as he ran OTL 1900 or any other form of a Socialist Party)
* You can only have a POD of 1897.
* Nothing ASB - such as "aliens come down from Earth and brainwashing all Americans to vote and campaign for Eugene Debs." Though that's sort of an obvious rule, I suppose;)

The point system:

1. 1904 - If you get Debs elected in 1904, you get a box of cookies.
2. 1920 - If you get Debs elected in 1920, you get three quarters of a box of cookies.
3. 1900 - If you get Debs elected in 1920, you get half a box of cookies.
4. 1908 - If you get Debs elected in 1908, you get three cookies.
5. 1912 - If you get Debs elected in 1912, you get one cookie.

Good luck!:p
 
There was a US Labour Party thread a week or two back. Really, he needs the Unions onside, and progressives from the two main parties to form a broad-front Socialist/Labour Party.

Debs was big on a broad Labour Party. You need the AFL to have bigger stones and back cross-craft cooperation, leading to them being more political and also encouraging blue collar workers into joining up and having confidence in 'Labour' power.

Also grassroots success in Congress, maybe even Governorships will boost voter confidence
 
An arrogant US President somehow gets a declaration of war in 1915 (before the Lusitania, or just maybe with RMA Lusitania having been only slightly damaged by a torpedo)

There is strong anti war feeling but Democrat, Republican and maybe Bull moosers all run pro war candidates.

America has left hundreds of thousands dead in France or Flanders for no obvious reasons.

Germany seems to be offering "peace without Victors"

Debs is supported by old line Populists including Bryan and maybe some progressives like Hirum Johnson.

Anti War candidates (from different parties in Congress but not running against each other) get 40% of both the Presidential and Congressional vote.
 
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