WI: 1984 Presidential Election" Reagan (R) Vs. Mondale (D) Vs. Zappa(I)

What if in the 1984 presidential election, Frank Zappa had decided to run for president as an Independent? Would he have gotten ballot access? Would he have gotten into the debates? What kind of impact would he have had on the election?
 
He wouldnt get one eelctoral vote maybe a thousand poular votes.

I think he'd do much better than that. Larry Flynt got 17,458 votes when he ran for governor of California in 2003.

Granted, there MIGHT be fewer people willing to vote for a fringe candidate at the presidential level than at at the gubernatorial level. But, factor in also that Zappa is more well-known and respectable than Flynt, and would likely be articulating his positions a little better, and I think you're looking at a vote total in AT LEAST the tens of thousands.

And the fear of an incompetent in the White House actually might not be a very big deal, if most of the people voting for him assume he won't win.

Ideally, though, Zappa would run in 1988, when he'd still be coasting on his triumphant(well, to hip liberals anyway) appearance before the PMRC hearings in '85.
 
Top