Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy
Banned
WI Ronald Reagan had been nominated as the Republican candidate for US president in 1976 and won the election? (And on a related note, could he win it, or was he still seen as too far to the right?)
1) I think it's fairly unlikely he could win, since, yeah, he was seen as basically a right-wing nut.
WI he has to run against Jerry Brown
Lloyd Bentsen, maybe? *shrug*
I don't think the Democrats losing the South is a death blow, although it would help Reagan in the election. If Reagan goes down in flames as Carter did, the Democrats can lose the South and still probably get a majority of outside votes. Keep in mind, you'd have had a Republican controlled WH since 1968, an economy going down the toilet, and a man who would still probably be considered too radical in his politics by a lot of people without the feel good "Morning in America" nostalgia and mythos.Your Majesty, the Dems still don't have a Dixie-friendly candidate. If they can't carry at least 2-3 Southern states by picking a Southern running-mate, Reagan wins due to the vagaries of the electoral map. There are no Southern presidential candidates with a large following in the North in 1980.
It was the same with Carter.Bentsen is eminently qualified, looks Presidential, and is a moderate SoDem. Outside the South, he still has little name recognition.