Hypothetical question on 1984 presidential race

[CMT]

Fritz Mondale choose--to his enduring credit--the first (and thus far only) female nominee of a major party for Vice President. He choose Geraldine Ferraro, who I think did a good job in the campaign. Yet I'm not sure she was the best choice for that year. She was a three-term member of the house and perhaps more importantly a favorite of Tip O'Neills.

I think two other candidates would have been better:

Rep. Pat Schroeder of Colorado who had been in congress since 1972.

or

San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein of California

there were some also pushing Gov. Martha Collins of Kentucky.

Of course at the time I was only 20 and this was my first chance to vote in a presidential election and I was delighted with Ferarro. Though personally I would have favored LA Mayor Tom Bradley, an African-American, running with Mondale.

Do you think Mondale made the correct decision or would you have played it differently against Reagan in 1984?

[RobertSeattle]

1. I think he made a good choice

My summary of 1984:
Mondale told the truth and he lost. (I will raise your taxes)
Reagan lied and he won (I won't raise your taxes)

[GainesT1958]

2. I think he should have chosen Gary Hart...

That would have brought "new voters" for Hart's "New Ideas" into the campaign enthusiastically, and would've helped Fritz carry at least a FEW more states--maybe as many as Dukakis. Which, though I believe Ronnie would still have had a wide margin of victory, would have helped the Party ticket in several states--including mine. And it would have started the "New Ideas" movement eight years earlier...the one which, eventually, led to Bill Clinton's nomination.

B-)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

6. Mondale would have won Iowa, Rhode Island, New York and...

Massachussetts (5 states), if he had taken a stronger runningmate such as Hart! No offense to Ms. Ferraro, I like her, but strategically speaking Hart would have been taken more seriously because he has a great backround on defense, is open to new ideas, and yes ladies, he's a man! At that time, I do not think that America was ready for a women in the number 2 spot! Things have changed since then and women are much more respected now!

[NWHarkness]

3. I like Ferraro

But the uproar over her husbands financial dealings cost the campaign a lot of momentum right after the convention. If he had chosen one of the other women you mentions, the campaign might have gotten more traction.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Other names mentioned were

Lloyd Bentson,Wilson Goode (black mayor of Philadelphia, Dukakis, and Dale Bumpers...My choice would have been. I would likely have selected Feinstein.

[CoffeePlease1947]

5. I think he made a bad choice if he planned on winning other it was a good

choice.

I think a choice of a women or black man on the ticker now is pretty risky. But in 1984 it was surrender. But it did help the country and party. I have no doubt that she would have done a good job as VP. But Mondale could not win in 1984, I think maybe he knew that.

Mondale should have choosen somebody from Florida, or Ohio or a large state. But it is hard to win against a hugely popular president that has California and Texas in his pocket.

I didn't see a way Mondale could win in 1984. So I guess picking a minority or women for VP was a good idea. If you are going to lose you should at least make a statement that is important.

Mike

[meegbear]

7. The Onion's Our Dumb Century ...

had him choose the "Where's the beef?" lady as his running mate. He should've chosen her.

[mlawson]

8. That was one of the first times the media whores

totally went after a Dem candidate. Yeah, they bashed carter in 1980, but this was about a candidate's spouse (Feraro's husband), and we saw then the extreme the jackels of the press will go, in order to destroy a person. I guess that 1984 spree was the model for later ones, such as 1988 and 2000.

We shoulda seen it coming, especially with Lee Atwater working for Poppy in 1988!

On edit: I do not think that FDR himself, appearing in half tone with a halo could have beaten Ronnie that year. Too many people LIKED him, even though they might not have liked his policies.

[DealsGapRider]

9. I think Hart would have been better.

I don't really have a strong opinion, though.

And I really like Diane Feinstein. I don't understand why so many DUers don't like her. She's definitely in my top 3 favorite Senators.

[salin]

10. I LOVE Pat Schroeder... but she wouldn't have done better

than Ferraro. Instead we had her voice in the House for another decade.

Not sure who would have been the more effective pick. Hart was drawing a lot of voters in - and as a recent college graduate - I can attest that even at my conservative U (home of dan quayle) - Hart had a following.

[maha]

11. Ferraro was as good as any other choice,

and better than many. I don't think Fritz Mondale would have won that election even with an endorsement from God. This is not a dig a Fritz. People were just too dazzled by The Gipper.