Better Walter Mondale Running Mate

In 1984, former Vice President Walter Mondale selected New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate to energize the base, win the votes of women, and because of his view of her as a solid legislator. Ferraro was (fairly or unfairly) viewed as inexperienced, smug, arrogant, overly-sensitive, and defensive during the Vice Presidential Debate. I can’t determine whether Mondale’s selection of Ferraro is what cost him the election or his ties with the Carter administration. But if Mondale’s selection of Ferraro is what cost him the election, who would have given him a better fighting chance against Reagan? (And yes, I understand the selection of a vice presidential nominee only minimally affects the outcome of the election. I just find the idea of the running mate fascinating because of the idea of having a partner who complements one or more of the presidential nominee’s weaknesses and the concept of the presidential-hopeful “choosing their successor”.) According to Bernard Weinraub’s article published in 1984, Mondale was considering as alternates to Ferraro: former rival Colorado Senator Gary Hart, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, and San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein.
 
He might not get the 49 state thumping that he got OTL, but even with a different running mate, Mondale still loses to Reagan and still loses rather decisively (and I say this as someone that doesn't think Reagan was a good President).
 
There are two times that I can remember in my lifetime when I was certain that the incumbent President was going to win re-election. Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1992. They were both doing a solid job (in my opinion) and no candidate that the other party ran against them were going to win. Could Mondale make some choices that would cause him to do better in the election? Sure, but nothing that would lead to his victory.
 
What if Mondale, was to have chosen Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy? Could help swing 107 electoral college votes, maybe even carry the East Coast?
 
Probobly Hart.

I agree. Hart would probably do the best, assuming he can keep it in his pants of course. With Hart, you have age, regional, and ideological balance, and he could flip Colorado and possibly New Mexico, but that's best case scenario.
 
Even 15 years after the Chappaquiddick accident. After loosing the 1980 election maybe Ted would be happy to try and get the Vice Presideny.

IMHO, if he wanted a try at the Vice Presidency, he would've taken it. He would've done so as early as 1968 or as late as 1992.
 
Even 15 years after the Chappaquiddick accident. After loosing the 1980 election maybe Ted would be happy to try and get the Vice Presideny.


Even with Hart being a little-known senator and barely received above 1 percent in the polls.

Chappaquiddick would still sink him.

Hart provides all the advantages, besides minority appeal but that's risky. He nets a few more states like MA, CO, RI maybe.
 
I read one of Mondale's aide used a football analogy to explain the women running mate. He said we needed a pass. It was a desperation move. I also read that before he decided on a pass. Mondale's favorite was Michael Dukakis. Fortunately Willie Hurton did not get his forlough until 1986.
 
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