Post by mcnutt on Oct 13, 2018 20:03:57 GMT
The POD is the press uncovers the Bush operatives who spreading the rumors that McCain fathered a Black child. The McCains get a lot of positive press for adapting a child from Bangladesh. McCain wins the South Carolina primary and goes on the win the nomination. in order to win over skeptical social conservatives, he chooses Georgia Congressman and former Clinton impeachment manager Bob Barr as running mate. McCain who is a gambler by nature is attracted to the risky choice, McCain is more articulate than Bush. There is no drunk driving story. He is a war hero not a draft dodger. He does better than Bush did in the general election. He wins the popular vote 49.4 % to 47 %, He wins the close states of Florida ( There is no recount or McCain v Gore.) Wisconsin,Iowa, New Mexico and Oregon. The Electoral College McCain 401 Gore 137.
McCain opposed the 2001 tax cut. Congressional Republicans would have demanded a one. He compromises and there is a smaller than OTL tax cut. The national debt is lower. 9/11 still happens. President McCain launches a war in Afghanistan. In 2003, he also launches the invasion of Iraq. The invasion happens in May not March. It takes longer to get an invasion force in place than OTL. President McCain insists that 500, 000 American troops go to Iraq. The larger force is more successful fighting the insurgents. The body count is higher. More reservists have been called up, so there is more of burden on American society. There is the same as OTL delay in getting the Iraqi military ready. So there is same impatience among the American people about the Iraq War.
The impatience is not so great by November 2004 to prevent McCain’s narrow reelection. He is more popular then an Bush so he does better. He uses the terrorism issue. His opponent is John Kerry, who does not respond well to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. McCain wins the popular vote by 51.7 % to 47.3 %. McCain wins the OTL Bush states plus New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The Electoral College is McCain 322 Kerry 216. The public anger is great enough by 2006 to create a Democratic landslide in that year’s midterms.
In 2008, Republican nominee Vice President Barr has to deal with public fatigue over the Iraq War, the economic collapse and distrust of his social conservative views among moderate Republicans and independents. His opponent is Barack Obama. Kerry still chooses Obama as 2004 keynote speaker, which sends on his drive to the nomination. The popular vote is Obama 56 % Barr 40 %. Obama carries his OTL states plus Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Arizona.The Electoral College is Obama 418 Barr 120. The House is 278 Democratic 157 Republican rather than the OTL 257 to 178. With Democratic victories in Georgia and Kentucky the Senate is 62 Democratic 38 Republican. Rather than the OTL 60 to 40. With more Democrats in the House, the 2010 Affordable Care Act has a public option. Even if Republican Scott Brown captures the Democratic Senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy., he does not end the filibuster proof Democratic margin. Elizabeth Warren is confirmed as head of the CF”PB. With that low profile job, she is not elected to the Senate or become a presidential candidate. With the defeat McConnell, there is a different Republican leader of the US Senate,
