Goldwater in 80

Ibn Warraq

Banned
What if Barry Goldwater sought the GOP nomination in 1980?

He'd lose to Ronald Reagan which would be a very interesting race.

Also, keep in mind while he was the father of the modern Conservative movement his views on abortion and gay rights would be anathama to far too much of the GOP base.
 
He'd lose to Ronald Reagan which would be a very interesting race.

Also, keep in mind while he was the father of the modern Conservative movement his views on abortion and gay rights would be anathama to far too much of the GOP base.

If Goldwater runs and loses 64' he will never be elected President. You can't come back, from a landslide loss.

But if we presuppose he was not nominated in 1964, it becomes somewhat more plausible, so you want Goldwater to win 1980, or at least, be the GOP nominee, well let's say he isn't nominated for President in 1964. Nixon/Watergate still happens, but of course, no Goldwater 64' means no Reagan. So instead Goldwater takes up the conservative mantle against Ford, and somehow wins the nomination, he defeats Jimmy Carter in a really really really close election. He is renominated by the Republican party in 1980 but will likely lose due to economic conditions.

Now in the previous scenario, I am ignoring butterflies, which makes it very implausible, and I apologize for that, I just, don't know how else to get Goldwater the nomination.

However, if we assume he runs in OTL 1980, his run will be akin to George McGovern's 1984 run.

However, there is the possiblity the Goldwater will split the vote between Reagan and himself, leading to someone like George Bush as the nominee. That is if Goldwater becomes a credible, or semi credible candidate.
 
He'd lose to Ronald Reagan which would be a very interesting race.

Also, keep in mind while he was the father of the modern Conservative movement his views on abortion and gay rights would be anathama to far too much of the GOP base.

I agree, but what would be the effects in today's GOP if he was openly campaigning on those things next to George Bush and Ronald Reagan.
 
Top