Obama's 2012 Primary was weird. While there was never a chance he'd lose, it certainly didn't look good when Democrat-turned-Libertarian-turned-Democrat challenged the President and won a number of Appalachian/inland south states and his home state of Alaska.
What if the Gravel Primary hadn't happened?
Would Obama have fared better if Gravel hadn't mobilized the civil libertarian and social progressive left and Occupy Movement against him?
-----
OOC: Mike Gravel considered Primarying Obama in 2012 and around 35% of Democrats wanted to see somebody challenge Obama in 2012. Obama actually fared pretty poorly OTL in the primary for a sitting President - the lowest since HW Bush. He only took 81% in New Hampshire, 57% in Oklahoma, 76% in Louisiana, 79% in North Carolina, 59% in West Virginia (to a convict no less), 58% in Arkansas, and 58% in Kentucky. Plus there was a whole issue where Obama came close-ish to not being on the primary ballot in Georgia.
What if the Gravel Primary hadn't happened?
Would Obama have fared better if Gravel hadn't mobilized the civil libertarian and social progressive left and Occupy Movement against him?
-----
OOC: Mike Gravel considered Primarying Obama in 2012 and around 35% of Democrats wanted to see somebody challenge Obama in 2012. Obama actually fared pretty poorly OTL in the primary for a sitting President - the lowest since HW Bush. He only took 81% in New Hampshire, 57% in Oklahoma, 76% in Louisiana, 79% in North Carolina, 59% in West Virginia (to a convict no less), 58% in Arkansas, and 58% in Kentucky. Plus there was a whole issue where Obama came close-ish to not being on the primary ballot in Georgia.