Alright, well, it looks like this one is a keeper!
To start, in OTL, Buchanan challenged President Bush Sr. in the 1992 Republican primary, and did not do particularly well. In preparation for this alternate run, I want to give Buchanan a more serious political resume than just an advisor and White House Communications Director. As such, I'm having him be the Republican nominee for the 1988 Virginia Senate race against former Governor Chuck Robb to succeed Senator Paul Trible. Robb defeated the actual Republican nominee, minister Maurice A. Dawkins, in a landslide, but I see Buchanan being a stronger candidate. Here's how that goes:
The 1988 Virginia Senate race was a nail biter. Democrat former Governor Chuck Robb faced off against Pat Buchanan, a Paleoconservative Republican who had formerly been an advisor to Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, as well as Reagan's Communications Director. Robb's tendency to be more reserved and speak in complex paragraphs made him seem boring next to the passionate and unrepentant Buchanan. Robb hit Buchanan for being on the fringe of American politics on many issues, and Buchanan slammed Robb for his commitment to liberal social causes. The final nail in the coffin for Robb was when Buchanan convinced President Reagan to campaign for him. Robb, feeling threatened by Buchanan's use of Reagan, had former President Jimmy Carter, a fellow centrist Southern Democrat, to campaign for him. Despite the recent Iran-Contra scandal, Reagan was still more popular than Carter, and the presidential endorsements turned out to be an asset for Buchanan but a liability for Robb. The results showed a close victory for Buchanan:
Buchanan: 1,071,075- 51.8%
Robb: 996,636- 48.2%
This has Buchanan as a freshman Senator when he challenges Bush Sr. in the primary.
I'll get to more writing, and if I don't have more up by tomorrow, I will have it soon. In the meantime, Happy Holidays!