Republican challenger in 2004?

In 2004 there were barely any Republican challengers to challenge Bush Jr. and Kerry. But if there had been, who do you think would have been likely to run, and be a viable option?
 
In 2004 there were barely any Republican challengers to challenge Bush Jr. and Kerry. But if there had been, who do you think would have been likely to run, and be a viable option?

Bush was the incumbent President. Incumbent Presidents rarely get serious challenges unless they are super unpopular (Ford in 76, Carter in 80). But if your OP is assuming that Bush's popularity tanks to the teens in 2004 (like it was in 2008), then maybe McCain, Giuliani, or George Allen (he was considered to be a strong Presidential contender until he lost his Senate seat in 2006). Of course it also depends on what series of events made Bush's popularity go down so far.
 
If by some means the September 11th outrage is prevented then GW Bush would be deeply unpopular. His renomination might well have been challenged
 
No 9/11 probably gets Bush a challenger. The economy sticks in the toilet, in that case, and I would assume that the Democrats take both houses of Congress in 2002.

But who? I'm thinking John McCain is a big possibility.
 

Jasen777

Donor
McCain is probably too smart to run a campaign he has no chance of winning. Even an unpopular president is unstoppable in a modern nomination contest. "Unpopular" isn't enough - has to be a complete disaster, which is just unlikely.
 
Ron Paul. First of all, none of the established players (McCain etc...) would play a longshot like that. It would be hard to win.

Second, I think he need to challange the Iraq war (and that wasn't a winner back then) because it was the big issue back then.

And I think it would be Ron himself rather then any Ronish since he is getting to old quickly.
 
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