WI: Frank Church Wins the Democratic Nomination in 1976?

In March of 1976 Idaho Senator Frank Church announced his candidacy for the Democratic Nomination as part of the "Anything But Carter Movement." Despite a late start, he managed to pull off victories in the primaries of Nebraska, Oregon and Montana as well as in his home state. After some initial successes however, Church's candidacy fell short, as Carter's lead in delegates allowed him to secure the Democratic Nomination by June.

Assuming Church enters the fray earlier (and afterwards manages to capture the nomination) how would the general election unfold? Who would Church look for as a possible VP? How would Church's record as a progressive capable of winning in the country's most Conservative areas help him electorally?

Furthermore, how would Church fair as America's commander in chief during such a volatile time period (assuming he can be elected)?
 
He would not have enjoyed Carter's Southern support so getting elected is harder. If elected his Congressional experience means we get a better energy package. I assume he too lets the Shah in and we have the hostage crisis.
 
Church got his name by investigating intelligence and foreign policy abuses, so I could see him winning by a larger margin than Carter. He'll sweep the North, probably not the South, though Carter would be a solid VP pick.

Church was very experienced in foreign policy, so I don't imagine that he'll make the same Iranian mistakes Carter did. He certainly wouldn't amid the Shah; he was less hypocritical on human rights than Carter. And his congressional experience would be crucial since there were New Deal-sized majorities in Congress. This will mean a lot for environmental legislation.

If Church is reelected in 1980 (I think he will be), he will die in his second term of cancer.
 
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President Gerald Ford and Senator Bob Dole (Republican): 157
Senator Frank Church and Jimmy Carter (Democratic): 381

Church would crush Ford and probably do a rather good job of being President. I could see him winning re-election fairly easily because of his good relationship with Congress (thus allowing him to get shit done) and because of his expertise in foreign policy (thus allowing him not to get Carter'd)
 
Church would crush Ford and probably do a rather good job of being President. I could see him winning re-election fairly easily because of his good relationship with Congress (thus allowing him to get shit done) and because of his expertise in foreign policy (thus allowing him not to get Carter'd)

I agree. And his re-election in 1980 means Tecumseh's Curse strikes again in 1984 (as Plumber said, he's going to die of cancer).
 
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