1988 US Elections
Election season in the United States. Unsurprisingly, it was quite an electrifying time. President Mo Udall's second and final term would be finished within a few short months. From him being swearing in over to now, much has changed in the United States, especially thanks to the dominance of the Democrat Party, led by their progressive elements. The introduction of the NBH, the financial assistance that was done in the early years, the expansion of education for the blue collar sectors, the SATMIN and third wave femnist movements... Mo Udall has defined the 1980s as his decade and as a period of recovery and prosperity for the United States along with helping to repair the Amercians' reputation across the world. As such, this election would be a good reflection on who would be the next leader of the Untied States and the direction of the nation.
The Democrats' primary ended with the expected result of Reubin Askew becoming the Democrats' candidate. He did not run unopposed, as other hopefuls like Jesse Jackson and Al Gore would run, at least to try ansd get their name out to test the waters. Jesse Jackson was to try and see how a candidate of color would do, though he was haunted by his own individual past comments, including on Udall, due to his former connections to the Mormon Church (which Udall left when he entered college). Al Gore meanwhile was more of a moderate form of Democrat, and even part of a group that garnered the nickname "Atari Democrats", after the company. This was mainly for the goal of stimulating the economy through investment of high technological industries. While some were concerned and saw this as veering away from the traditional labor roots, others saw it as an opportunity to grow more. Unions have managed to regian their footing after the troublesome years in Reagan and the economic recession and have to realize they would need to keep changing and adapting to remain relevant and prominent. As such, the possibility then was also to prepare for the eventual unionizing of these new breed of technological workers and programmers, especially as educational courses would likely find their way in vocational schools as the technology advanced, stabilized and standardized. Of course, when Askew won, it was matter of who would be chosen over for his vice president choice. Appaently, rumors had it that would've been Al Gore while others suspected perhaps Walter Mondale. Askew had considered them both, but he noted that the candidate would be someone who would reflect the future and spur it on. Despite initial hesitation, the person agreed to become Reubin Askew's running mate.
The first black woman elected to US Congress,the first black candidate to run for a major party's nomination for
President of the United States, and the first woman to run for the
Democratic Party's presidential nomination. None other than Shirley Anita Chisholm.
Despite her retirement back in 1984 from the House, she remained an active party in politics, especially with third wave feminism entering into full swing. Before she retired though, she was given the Presidental Medal of Freedom by Udall. She noted that she was quite surprised with being offered it and accepted it, seeing as an opportunity to further advance the needs of Americans, especially women of color, something which she had begun working with some of the other old guard members of the progressives, who despite feeling their age, felt the excitement of the young still and an obligation to finish guiding them to take the reigns, with work left to be done.
Meanwhile, the Republican primary was an unsurprising mess. Anderson's departure have left the Liberal Republicans without a candidate, but worse still, exposed a large divide between the leadership, the various voters and even with the times. As such, many of the candidates were pressured into dropping off though the behind-the-scenes drama like with Jack Kemp and so on would sneak into the papers. Before long, Bob Dole would remain as the last serious candidate in the running representing a damaged Republican Party, one that seem to be lost in what direction they could represent. Additionally, the public lambasting they got from Anderson along with some of the Democrats over their repeated attempts to use the "Southern Strategy" would hurt them even more. On the national level, the signs of the GOP's weakness were seen with the rise of state parties; in the same way the Conservative Party of New York was founded due to dissatisfication with the GOP, these new state parties were born to create a center-right alternative for people to vote for in the hopes of influencing the GOP. Ironically, the Conservative Party of New York itself would lose steam as they would be blamed partially for some of the GOP's poor decision. Despite this, Bob Dole trudged on in trying to unify the party by moderating some of his stances along with his running mate, George HW Bush. However, it did little except highlight the danger of the party without direction. Worse still, the louder more reactionary voices continued to lambast their complaints, unaware of the growing contempt and frustration they were getting from their own party and their voter base.
Then there was the third choice in John B. Anderson himself. Despite his best efforts, he would unsurprisingly lag behind the other candidates, though for reasons more associated with the American political system. However, he was well-respected enough to keep being invited to the debates of the general elections and given chances to go and promote his own stances, a form of middle ground. Not
as radical as what the progressives of Udall and Askew, yet more stable and open to change than Dole and most of the GOP. However, at the end, he also began championing the need for electoral reform. He along with his running mate Patrick Joseph Lucey would discuss the need to change the voting system and to make it fairer and more open. Anderson recieved a healthy support from Liberal Republicans along with some of the Democrats and other indepenents.
Election Day would come and the results would be shown.
The surprise came in with John B. Anderson winning a healthy percentage of the vote, even getting double digits, despite the disadvantages, along with a couple of states. Perhaps more the news came in how brutally bad the Republicans were defeated. Anderson clearly showed the sharp divide as it took support from them, even more than a bit from the Democrats along with the general feeling toard the GOP. Dole lacked the charisma Reagan possessed and he was not a moderate with a good reputation like Baker was, so he could not replicate them.
As such, it would be pretty plain to see the winner.
Election Day 1988 would see Reubin Askew and his running mate in Shirley Chisholm win the popular and electoral vote.
Reubin Askew would become the 41st President of the United States.
41st President Reubin Askew & 43rd Vice President Shirley Chisholm