I have seen some discussion surrounding Paul Tsongas run in 1992, but I have several questions that I would like to expand on.
- First, what would his VP selection look like? I can see it go in three directions Southern or Western moderates (Al Gore, Bruce Babbit, etc.), the second direction would be a more socially conservative democrat the only ones that come to mind are Harry Reid or Bob Casey Sr, and the last direction is a historic choice such as an African American (Douglas Wilder would fit especially with also being a moderate.)
- Second, is his economic program that was laid out in A Call to Economic Arms. As previously stated this program heavily mirrored Japan's and Germany's economic system, but how much could he get passed? What will US manufacturing look like today? How will Tsongas treat the rise of China?
- Last, is that Tsongas being fiscally conservative could it have prevented the 1994 Republican Revolution? There were many Southern democrats who switched parties in 1994 (Richard Shelby, Nathan Deal, Billy Tauzin, etc.) would no healthcare push or broken promise of not raising taxes keep these democrats on board? How would the party look today Tsongas would make liberals mad with his fiscal conservatism, blue dogs and populists over his social liberalism, but he could also appeal to each in different ways?