George W. Bush 2012

Like most political threads I've been posting, the POD is John McCain winning the Republican Party presidential nomination in 2000. John McCain's Vice President (the top two names on his shortlist in OTL 2000 were Fred Thompson and Chuck Hagel), are challenged by George W. Bush in 2008 but ultimately win the nomination that year, only to lose to the Democratic nominee. Would Bush try for a third time four years later or would he simply retire? To have him run in 2012, would the POD have to be him not running in 2000, but running for the first time in 2008? I speculated that in such a timeline, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Rudy Giuliani wouldn't run in 2008 against McCain's Vice President but would run four years later. So if Bush wins the nomination in 2012 and loses to the Democratic nominee, would 2016 be a bitter fight between Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush?
 
I don't think Dubya would run three times. I think after two runs, he's pass on a third time and let Jeb! have his turn.
 
I don't think Dubya would run three times. I think after two runs, he's pass on a third time and let Jeb! have his turn.
So I suppose the best way is have him not run in 2000, lose the Primary in 2008, and return in 2012? The only way to have him not run in 2000 is having Ann Richards get re-elected in 1994, forcing him to seek some other office in 1996 or 1998.
 

So I suppose the best way is have him not run in 2000, lose the Primary in 2008, and return in 2012? The only way to have him not run in 2000 is having Ann Richards get re-elected in 1994, forcing him to seek some other office in 1996 or 1998.

He could run for Governor in 1998 if he loses to Richards, as I doubt she'd stay on for three terms, and would struggle to win one if she did. He could also run for the Senate at some point in the late 90s or early 2000s as well, but yes, having him lose the Governor's race or have him bot run for governor in 1994 at all, thus preventing a run for President in 2000, is probably the best way to get him in in 2012.
 
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