alternatehistory.com

ITTL, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney wins the Republican Party presidential nomination in 2008, selects a moderate Republican running mate (I was thinking Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski or former eBay CEO Meg Whitman), and loses to the Democratic nominee at the General Election. As OTL, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann suspends her campaign after being trounced at the Iowa Republican Caucus. Could we see a return of Arizona Senator John McCain in 2012? If not, would the POD have to be McCain not running in 2008? Rationale for selecting Bachmann would be her radicalism and her gender to overcome the "War on Women" scenario the Republican Party had to face in 2012 (much of the same premise for selecting Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in OTL 2008). What effects would this ticket have in the future? Assuming Romney and his running mate were completely moderate, could Michele Bachmann be the one to awaken the Tea Party rather than Palin?
Top