Hillary Clinton Killed in 1992.

Fenrir_Angerboda

Fenrir_Angerboda

On January 26, 1992, while Bill and Hillary were on Sixty Minutes, a Stage light fell down, barely missing Hillary's head.

Link to the incident in question.

In this case, it's still during his campaign, and while the rumors of his Extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers, and his draft dodging were still flying around.

If this leads to Hillary dying, or at the very least severely injured, exactly how much of an effect would this have had on Bill's Political Career, the 1992 elections, and beyond?
 

JVM

I think it helps him, if only because it was on video with witnesses. If it was a more mysterious incident, it'd seem hurtful or suspicious because of the allegations, but if she's killed like this, where it can be seen, and with multiple people supporting what will no doubt be the official story, I think Clinton is given more of a sympathy vote.

This also depends of course, how he handles it in public. He definitely has to show some emotion, because as Michael Dukakis shown, one is terrible, but he can't show too much either, or else we get a Muskie '72 scenario whee snowflakes melt on his face and he looks like a loser.
 
Fenrir_Angerboda

Fenrir_Angerboda

JVM said:
I think it helps him, if only because it was on video with witnesses. If it was a more mysterious incident, it'd seem hurtful or suspicious because of the allegations, but if she's killed like this, where it can be seen, and with multiple people supporting what will no doubt be the official story, I think Clinton is given more of a sympathy vote.

This also depends of course, how he handles it in public. He definitely has to show some emotion, because as Michael Dukakis shown, one is terrible, but he can't show too much either, or else we get a Muskie '72 scenario whee snowflakes melt on his face and he looks like a loser.
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Actually that's another point.

Is Bill really going to stay in the race?

I mean, In this sort of situation, it seems more likely that he'd drop out.
 

JVM

^ I considered that but it's hard to tell with Clinton. I can see it on one hand but can't on the other.
 

Paul V McNutt

Banned
Sanderford said:
I can't help thinking if he did still run and managed to win, it could be sort of like Reagan in the aftermath of being shot. He'd be the next Teflon President.
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I am not sure about the teflon part. He benefits from a sympathy factor. When president he is single, so an affair with an intern is not as scandalous.
 

NickCT

What's the possibility of Cuomo waging a serious write-in campaign, and crashing in to the race?

If not, Tsongas won't win the general, Perot will get some electoral votes, but Bush will win a second term.
 

Porthos

This is an interesting one. The field was called "The Seven Dwarfs" by some of the media at the time for a reason. Sure looking back we see Bill Clinton as a larger than life superstar. But back then he was just another untested nobody.

I'm honestly not sure who would win, as all of the cadidates have flaws.

Harkin still crushes Iowa, as expected. No one bothered to compete with him, so no media boost.

Tsongas wins New Hampshire. But who comes in second or third? Is there some sort of surprise that gives the media something to latch on? Will Brown's insurgent campaign work as well? And even if so, does he implode like he did in OTL. He's going to be running on some very heterodox ideas for the Democratic party that will run him potentially into trouble.

And if he embraces Jesse Jackson at just the wrong moment like he did in OTL....

I dunno. My gut says either Bob Kerrey or Tom Harkin get it. With the memory of Dukakis ringing in people's ears, I just don't see Tsongas getting the nod. And Brown I think is just too undisciplined.

And I can't say I've ever been that impressed with the campaign skills of Douglas Wilder. So I can't see him making much of an impression. And Eugene McCarthy just did not suit the mood of the time at all.

So, by elimination, I think I'm left with either Kerrey or Harkin. Maybe Kerrey after Clinton endorses him?

And won't that set up all sorts of fun once the press/Republicans start sniffing around his military past?
 

SLCer

January 26th, 1992: Hillary Clinton is killed in a freak accident during an interview on her husband's supposed extramarital affairs.

January 30th, 1992: Bill Clinton announces he will drop out of the 1992 presidential race due to the death of his wife. He says he plans to spend much of his time privately grieving with his daughter, Chelsea.

January 31st, 1992: Hillary Clinton is laid to rest in Arkansas. The funeral is attended by all the major Democratic presidential candidates, as well as First Lady Barbara Bush.

February 18th, 1992: Paul Tsongas wins an overwhelming majority of support in the New Hampshire primary. He instantly becomes the front-runner.

March 24th, 1992: Tsongas' win in the Connecticut primary all but locks him up the Democratic nomination. His closest competitor, former California governor Jerry Brown, officially drops out of the race and pledges to support Tsongas' effort to defeat President Bush in November.

July 10th, 1992: Paul Tsongas picks Nebraska senator Bob Kerrey as his running-mate.

July 16th, 1992: Tsongas officially accepts his party's nomination for president of the United States.

November 3rd, 1992: Riding support from blue collar whites, many who abandoned the Democratic Party in the 80s, Tsongas easily defeats President George Bush in an electoral landslide. His moderate approach to economics, namely focusing on balancing the ballooning budget, helped endear him to a large segment of the population who hadn't voted Democratic at the presidential level in over a decade.

Though there was initial concern over Tsongas' health, the potential of a cancer relapse, he was able to calmly reassure the American voters that his health was impeccable and that he could competently lead the country.

genusmap.php


Former Senator Paul Tsongas / Senator Bob Kerrey: 347 EV, 54.3% PV
President George Bush / Vice President Dan Quayle: 191 EV, 40.7% PV
Businessman Ross Perot / Vice Admiral James Stockdale: 0 EV, 5.0% PV

January 20th, 1993: Paul Tsongas takes the Oath of Office to become the 42nd President of the United States.

March 6th, 1994: Democrats successfully pass the Healthcare Reform Act of 1993 - radically overhauling the U.S. healthcare system.

November 8th, 1994: In a backlash to healthcare reform, Republicans pick up a staggering amount of seats in the U.S. House - winning back the House for the first time since 1954. Democrats barely hang on to their majority in the U.S. Senate.

January 4th, 1996: In a stunning announcement, President Tsongas announces he will not seek reelection due to increasing health problems. Vice President Kerrey becomes the front-runner to the nomination.

May, 1996: President Tsongas undergoes a bone marrow transplant.

August 20th, 1996: Bob Kerrey selects Richard Gephardt as his running-mate.

August 29th, 1996: Vice President Kerrey officially accepts the Democratic nomination.

November 5th, 1996: Vice President Bob Kerrey wins in a landslide over Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. His win is attributed to the growing economy and generally peaceful international situation.

January 18, 1997: President Tsongas passes away shortly before the inauguration of his successor. He's given a state funeral and remembered for healthcare reform and bringing economic prosperity back to the United States. In a Gallup poll shortly after his death, Tsongas is considered a 'great' president by 53% of the country.

January 20th, 1997: Bob Kerrey is officially inaugurated as president.

November 7th, 2000: Kerrey defeats John McCain for reelection.
 
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