WI: 1992 election is between Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy, their crimes are released. What next?

Both Gacy and Bundy were in local politics for a time. Gacy a Democrat, Bundy a Republican. Lets say their political careers become larger, with Gacy being the Democratic senator from Iowa and Bundy the Republican Governor of Washington. While getting to those positions, they still commit their crimes

George H. W. Bush suffers a stroke in October 1991, causing him to refuse to run in 1992. Bob Dole doesn't run, to the surprise of many. Ted Bundy runs and wins the GOP primaries, while Gacy runs and wins the Democratic primaries. Ted Bundy chooses Bob Dole as his VP, Gacy chooses John Glenn as his VP

The election is a close election until an October surprise emerges in the form of Gacy and Bundy's crimes being leaked. Ross Perot does not run because Gacy is against NAFTA.

Since both candidates are horrific murderers, what do the American people do now?
 
What I think:

Election still goes on, but turnout is like 10%. Election is basically "Whose crimes are less severe?". Faithless electors occur in every state. IDK who becomes president, but they become the last president of their party, as the GOP and Dems dissolve shortly after
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
Both Gacy and Bundy were in local politics for a time. Gacy a Democrat, Bundy a Republican. Lets say their political careers become larger, with Gacy being the Democratic senator from Iowa and Bundy the Republican Governor of Washington. While getting to those positions, they still commit their crimes

George H. W. Bush suffers a stroke in October 1991, causing him to refuse to run in 1992. Bob Dole doesn't run, to the surprise of many. Ted Bundy runs and wins the GOP primaries, while Gacy runs and wins the Democratic primaries. Ted Bundy chooses Bob Dole as his VP, Gacy chooses John Glenn as his VP

The election is a close election until an October surprise emerges in the form of Gacy and Bundy's crimes being leaked. Ross Perot does not run because Gacy is against NAFTA.

Since both candidates are horrific murderers, what do the American people do now?
They're arrested, the Senate passes emergency legislation so that the election is either nullified or pushed back to a later date whilst the National Committee's hold emergency conventions. Turnout gets in the low 40's, but doesn't break the 30's, and suddenly witchhunts are raving through every level of Government.
 
My thoughts:
Since it isn't legally binding in the sense of the German army swearing loyalty to Hitler alone, both RNC and DNC will announce that if their ticket is elected, they will seek impeachment charges against the President, and the VP will be sworn in, per the Constitution. "We, like millions of Americans, are shocked to find out our nominee is accused of such horrific crimes. Had we known earlier, we would have contacted the FBI and removed him from the party. Unfortunately, due to filing laws, we cannot replace (whichever name) as our nominee by election day. We urge you to still vote for our ticket, as we will seek Congress to impeach him on Jan 20th, at which point the FBI will take him into custody. The President at that time, will be our current VP nominee, a well respected Senator, known for working across the aisle. In closing, we ask that your prayers are with the victim's families, as they find out what happened to their loved ones. May God bless us all." Both campaigns work the Sunday shows, the killers are under house arrest, and the debates are between the VP's. No idea which side would win.
 
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My thoughts:
Since it isn't legally binding in the sense of the German army swearing loyalty to Hitler alone, both RNC and DNC will announce that if their ticket is elected, they will seek impeachment charges against the President, and the VP will be sworn in, per the Constitution. "We, like millions of Americans, are shocked to find out our nominee is accused of such horrific crimes. Had we known earlier, we would have contacted the FBI and removed him from the party. Unfortunately, due to filing laws, we cannot replace (whichever name) as our nominee by election day. We urge you to still vote for our ticket, as we will seek Congress to impeach him on Jan 20th, at which point the FBI will take him into custody. The President at that time, will be our current VP nominee, a well respected Senator, known for working across the aisle. In closing, we ask that your prayers are with the victim's families, as they find out what happened to their loved ones. May God bless us all." Both campaigns work the Sunday shows, the killers are under house arrest, and the debates are between the VP's. No idea which side would win.
Pretty much this, just one problem: the parties would probably order their electors in the EC to go faithless and vote for the VPs. So, the serial killer would never become president in the first place and impeachment wouldn't be necessary. Although, even then, the voters would probably be pretty hysterical and there would be a lot of apathy towards the VPs - after all, would you be comfortable with someone who was a serial killer's running mate? Third parties would definitely do better than normal, but considering that they're mostly on the fringe, I can't see any of them getting over ~5%.
 

Because no Democrat will vote for Gacy. Also, he's gay, working class, and dresses as a clown. That's not going to go over well.

Bundy is heterosexual, and a snappy dresser. Also, he's Republican, and they tend to vote on strongly tribal lines - witness Donald Trump. They'd hold their nose, but they'd vote for him. And Republicans have a more effective noise machine. They'd be much more effective at denying the charges and conspiracy theory. Hell, even today, half of Republicans think that Obama might have been born in Kenya, and the Clinton might have been running a child sex ring.
 
In order for Gacy and Bundy to be even nominated, the Democrats and Republicans would have to be so drunk that it gives them permanent brain damage. Third parties would win by a landslide. Yes, Ted Bundy does have appeal, but that would like saying Heinrich Himmler has appeal. They're still appalling and wouldn't be considered by any reasonable human for office.
 
Donald Trmp?

This is 1992, when more moderates were in both parties. Gary Hart had to drop out a few years previously, for instance. And the Democratic governor pf Pennsylvania was (is?) pro-life (had a court case of the state vs someone because of that, IIRC), and refused a chance to speak at the 1992 DNC because of that. Of course, GHW Bush raised taxes. 2016 electorate is not 1992. My grandmother couldn't bring herself to vote for Bill Clinton, since he had affairs (she always voted Democrat; loved JFK's accent).
 
Because no Democrat will vote for Gacy. Also, he's gay, working class, and dresses as a clown. That's not going to go over well.

Bundy is heterosexual, and a snappy dresser. Also, he's Republican, and they tend to vote on strongly tribal lines - witness Donald Trump. They'd hold their nose, but they'd vote for him. And Republicans have a more effective noise machine. They'd be much more effective at denying the charges and conspiracy theory. Hell, even today, half of Republicans think that Obama might have been born in Kenya, and the Clinton might have been running a child sex ring.

I have to agree, Bundy will be in a better place to win. Besides being more of a charmer, he'll have a better case to argue innocence. If the news of crimes just comes out in 1992, there must not have been much investgation going on prior, or the RNC or DNC would have heard about it earlier, therefore they'll both be under earlyish stages of investigation. Gacy has bodies spilling out of his crawlspace, Bundy buried his in the woods, and got rid of them in other various ways. So when the news leaks in 1992, they'll find bodies in Gacy's home, whereas with Bundy they'll be a variety of clues and evidence thats points to his guilt, but a proper investigation will take much longer.

Plus even without the criminal acts Gacy's evidence as being homosexual will be daming enough.

I'd think Bundy be a bit of a Rockefeller Republican, but his biggest legacy will be the Murdergate scandal, once enough evidence is gathered.

Would either party ever elect a president again?
 
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