Ok, how about this.
In 2000 Bush chooses not to run and McCain get's the nomination. He has a heart attack before announcing his Vice President- in fact he had not chosen the Vice president yet. The heart attack proves to be dehabilitating and he declares he is no longer running for president. The Republicans hold an emergency convention which Alan Keyes is able to pack with his supporters. He is elected on a controversial ballot with Pat Buchanan as his running mate. This, coupled with newly emerged evidence that he has ties to numerous black theology and similiar groups such as the Black Panthers cause him to lose almost all Republican support.
Al Gore is hit by an 18-wheeler while exiting the Democratic Convention. Bill Bradley is nominated in his stead. Bill Bradley is assassinated by an unknown before announcing his VP selection. A snap Democratic Convention nominates Bob Kerry with Dick Gephardt as his running mate. They are both killed in a bombing. Authorities begin to suspect that all of the deaths are being orchestrated by someone. The Democratic Convention nominates Paul Wellstone but he refuses the nomination and takes an extended vacation to Switzerland. Because no one will accept the nomination, no one appears on the Democratic ticket.
The Reform Party nominates Donald Trump, aka "The Trump".
Jello Biafra, the candidate of the Green Party, recieved a key early endorsement from Ralph Nader. After the fiasco with the two major parties, he recieved endorsements from prominent progressive democrats. He also benefited from being the only other candidate than Alan Keyes to have his name on the ballot in all fifty states.
On election night, voter turnout is at historic lows as people fear for their lives. Jello Biafra wins due to support from progressive democrats and people voting strategically against Keyes. Rumors were going around that Keyes was involved in the death of the Democratic nominees. There was a significant right-in movement to elect Paul Wellstone and John McCain; in addition hundreds of thousands of people wrote in both Al Gore and Bill Bradleys' names. Jello Biafra finished first with a little more than 30% of the vote. John McCain and Paul Wellstone finished second and third respectively, becoming the first write-in candidates to win electoral votes (each got between 20-25% of the popular vote). Donald Trump finished fourth with around 15% of the vote. Harry Brown of the Libertarian party finished fifth with slightly over 5% of the vote, giving the Libertarian party automatic ballot status in 2004.
Wow, I almost want to write a timeline about this now. Does anybody want to see more?