The Volunteer Rock

[genyodectes]

In 1976, Senator Bill Brock of Tennessee lost re-election in a rather close race against Jim Sasser. While much of the race is seen as unnecessary, what would've happened had Brock won re-election in 1976 and beyond?

[lordroel]

Moved the thread to Alternate History: After 1900 AD.

[genyodectes]

Mar 18, 2018 19:27:09 GMT lordroel said:

Moved the thread to Alternate History: After 1900 AD.

That was an intro for a TL, as the title Suggesta
S

[lordroel]

Mar 18, 2018 19:29:03 GMT genyodectes said:

Mar 18, 2018 19:27:09 GMT lordroel said:

Moved the thread to Alternate History: After 1900 AD.

That was an intro for a TL, as the title Suggesta
S

Deeply sorry, it has been moved back, please forgot this ever happen and carry on.

[genyodectes]

Mar 18, 2018 19:31:25 GMT lordroel said:

Mar 18, 2018 19:29:03 GMT genyodectes said:

That was an intro for a TL, as the title Suggesta
S

Deeply sorry, it has been moved back, please forgot this ever happen and carry on.

Tis fine, mein freund. I will just Begin to state what is what in my intros from here forth.

[lordroel]

Mar 18, 2018 19:32:48 GMT genyodectes said:

Mar 18, 2018 19:31:25 GMT lordroel said:

Deeply sorry, it has been moved back, please forgot this ever happen and carry on.

Tis fine, mein freund. I will just Begin to state what is what in my intros from here forth.

No my fault, i jumped to quick to mod mode.

[genyodectes]

Update #1: Brock Retains + Iowa, 1980

In 1976, Senator Bill Brock Tennessee was in a real pickle. His opponent, Jim Sasser, was closing in on him in every poll, with the most recent poll showing both in a dead even tie. 1976 was going to be a bad year for the GOP, Nixon and that gosh darned Watergate all but assured that. Still, Brock refused to lose his seat because his president, Not Him, had done something corrupt and devious. Still, President Ford was incredibly unpopular and anyone who didn't run as far away as possible from him, Nixon, and Watergate were garunteed to lose their seat. There was also that Governor of California, Ronald Regan Brock believed was his name. He'd almost won the Republican Presidential Primary this year but Ford had been able to barely survive. 

On October 19th, Brock denounced the actions of Richard M. Nixon amongst a crowd in Nashville and stated that he was running for the values of his own Conservative views and both Nixon and Ford were not model presidents. While this helped in the Polls some, Brock was still ahead by 3 points. On October 27th, Brock recieved the Endorsement of California Governor Ronald Regan who was rather popular in states like Tennessee. Finally, November 2nd, Election Night came. Bill Brock was shown to be at 49% to Sasser's 50% in the final poll going into the night, a Nail Biter at any rate.

It was obvious that Jimmy Carter, the Democratic Candidate in the year, was going to beat President Gerald Ford and the Democrats were going to regain seats in the house and Senate. All eyes were on Tennessee to see the outcome of the race. When the first Polls closed at 8:00 PM EST, the results looked good for Sasser: 67%-22%. Still, it was too close to call. With 50% of vote in at 10:00 PM, Brock was closing in with Sasser having 54% to Brock's 45%. At 12:30 AM, with 75% of the vote reported, many outlets stated that Brock had lost re-election with Sasser having 52% to Brock's 47%. At 12:55 AM, However, this was changed with 99% of the vote showing Senator Brock had just barely won re-election with 51% to Sasser's 49%, an extremely close win for anyone. As Sasser conceded the morning after, Brock celebrated the close victory and, to a crowd of eager voters that this victory was just the beginning of continued victories for the Republicans in the future.

After this Victory, Tennessee Senator Bill Brock became the championed hero of the Republican Party with many saying that what he pulled off was a Miracle. The Senator of coursed, very Humble from his victory after it being incredibly close, told the Republicans to be ready to ride a Red Wave into the House and Senate in 1978. At that point in time, the Democratic majorities were not look particularly well and Popular and they were constantly behind due to a failing Economy and President Carter's somewhat weak stance on foreign policy, especially on the Soviet Union.

The GOP used this as a way to crush their opponents in the Senate and House with the new darling of the Republican Party Bill Brock leading them. Brock would constantly call out thethe Democrats and attack them on many positions, especially the Economy. On Election Night, with polls showing the Republicans ahead Nationally in the Senate and House, they won big, with the Republicans able to get a 52 Senate Majority and 293 House Majority, giving the Republicans the ability to block Carter's policies. With Carter falling in popularity and the Democrats trying to rebuild their broken and battered party, Senator Brock announced his Candidacy for President of the United States on April 16th, 1979.

Against the Senator was 1976 potential Candidate Ronald Regan and Governor George H. W. Bush of Texas. Throughout all of 1979 and into very early 1980, all three of them were having a brutal slugfest with Iowa being the primary target. When Polls for Iowa closed on January 21st, Many thought Brock would end at a distant third at 16%. However, as the Primary got tighter and tighter between the three in Iowa, many began to think that Brock would place a close third. Finally, at 10 PM EST, the state was called for Brock who made a surprise win with 37% of the vote to Regan's 33% and Bush's 30%. With many pundits agreeing that this was a good start to the race, Senator Brock began to plot his way to the possible Nomination and victory in the General. He did know one thing, however. The race was going to be the tightest yet seen if Iowa was a big indicator.

Bill Brock - 37%
Ronald Regan - 33%
George H. W. Bush - 30%

[James G]

On to New Hampshire!
The Iowa and New Hampshire factors, as keynotes for starting, we just becoming a thing by the '80 election. They were different races, different audiences, but needed either/both to be won or for a candidate to come a strong second to get the momentum to go forward and win by June.

[stevep]

I get the suggestion that unless they get mad at each other we're going to have a Brock-Reagan or Reagan-Brock ticket, which will probably win fairly big in 1980. Especially if Iran and Afghanistan have both gone the same way as OTL with hostage crisis and Soviet invasions making Carter look even weaker on defence. Not to mention presuming also the 2nd oil crisis there will be great concern about the economy and security of oil supplies.