Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy
Banned
WI George Bush had won the Republican nomination in 1980 and gone on to be elected president?
who does Bush pick as his VP ?
The Religious Right still exists, though. I can hardly see them devoid of political influence. Bush ran to the right of his initial position in OTL 1988 (not that everyone believed him) and could still decide that a similar shift is politically advisable.
Bush engages the Soviets and we have an earlier START treaty..
I wonder whether his being more moderate will outweigh his being less charismatic when it comes to popularity. He should certainly do better in 1980 since Anderson won't be running, and probably better in 1984 as well. But I doubt the Republicans will prop him up as a symbolic president on the FDR/Lincoln level since he can't really be used as a conservative icon.
I actually wonder about 1984. I think Bush could win, but I suspect his EV tally will be substantially less than Reagan's.
Bush would win: the Dems were still clinging onto New Dealism for dear life, and Gary Hart would not be allowed anywhere near the nomination by the still-influential establishment. Plus the economic recovery, aided by a greatly reduced or nonexistent deficit, the benefits of a monetarist rather than voodoo GOP.
But does Bush sweep 49 states?
Probably not, but 40-45 is definitely a possibility. He came within 4% of carrying NY against Dukakis in 1988 IOTL, remember.