alternatehistory.com

While he was Vice President, Gerald Ford said a number of times that he would not run in 1976, even if he became President. Once he entered the White House, he changed his mind. The decision process started when Kissinger told him he would be taken more seriously if he ran in 1976. So what if Betty talks him out of it. How would this effect the Ford Administration? The 1976 election is pretty easy to figure out. Reagan quickly wins the Republican nomination. Carter, and it would be Carter, defeats him in November. Reagan is of the President's party in bad economic times. Carter can also make effective use of Reagan's unpopular views like his opposition to Medicare. Carter carries Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, DC, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Missouri, Arkansas, Georgia and Florida for 314 electoral votes.
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