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I've come up with two ideas for TLs hinging on the 1896 election, a very important election in OTL, and in a period that I want to cover. I would like to see if anyone has any suggestion for how either of them might turn out or any interest in one or the other.

Idea A: In 1893, McKinley actually resigns as Governor over his debt crisis in 1893, and while Hanna helps to get his career back on track afterwards, in 1896 Thomas Reed wins the Republican nomination instead. Reed beats Bryan in the general, and soon is forced to face the issue of Cuba, where he is one of the most anti-interventionist politicians against a very jingoistic public and congress.

or

Idea B: The 1896 St. Louis Tornado comes only a month later, hitting the 1896 Republican convention building and basically decimating the Republican party's convention members. This is before voting on a nominee- and one of the dead is Mark Hanna.

Any ideas for what would happen with either POD and do people think either idea sounds more interesting?
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