But when Thompson actually campaigned for the presidency OTL, he was incredibly lackluster and uninspiring.
Younger Thompson as VP might work, but if he acts the way older Thompson did OTL, he'll make the Powell candidacy go over as well as a lead balloon.
Well 12 years makes a big difference. Also, Thompson was more or less talked into running in 2008 even though he had, clearly, little more than no enthusiasm for the campaign. He can be very charismatic and, with the right handlers, very effective on the stump. It would be fun to watch him in his prime go up against Gore in a VP debate. Almost as good as watching Powell vs. Clinton.
Pro-choice black Republican running against popular charismatic incumbent southern Democrat in a good economy, he would do awful.
I don't know about awful. I'd say odds are stacked against him, maybe 60-40 he loses. But he'd be able to peel some of the African American voters from Clinton. Not that the Democrats wouldn't still win that segment with an overwhelming majority, but with increased turnout even 10-12% would make the difference in key states like Ohio.
And then we have the appeal of voting for the first black president over a Southern Democrat. Yuppies, even in 1996, would eat that stuff up giving Powell another inroad to Democratic voter strongholds.
I don't think Powell would blow Clinton out of the water, but the inverse wouldn't happen either. I think whoever wins will win with around 280 EVs and certainly nothing close to a mandate.