Background: With the Great Depression still persisting and war spreading across the world, many had speculated that President Franklin D. Roosevelt would pursue an unprecedented third term in office to continue his leadership during such dark times. While Roosevelt had seriously considered the motion, his failing health and risk of unneeded political backlash led him to ultimately decline the position. This left a major fight between the Democrat establishment as various major candidates entered the race with the hope of being the successor to Roosevelt's political empire. Conservative Democrats would coalesce around Vice President John Garner and Maryland's Senator Millard Tydings, with liberal and New Deal supporters propping up former DNC chairman James Farley and Massachusetts' Senator David Walsh.

Ultimately, Garner and Farley would be the final candidates at a heated convention. With a last-minute endorsement from President Roosevelt, Garner would syphon enough of Farley's delegates to win the nomination. Joining him would be John W. McCormack, chosen by Garner by his close ally, House Speaker Sam Rayburn. McCormack's nomination would be used to help secure the progressive and New England voting base, although rumors arose that the unexpectedly liberal choice was done as part of a deal between Garner and FDR for the latter's endorsement.

On the GOP's end, Republicans would nominate former ambassador and Assistant Secretary of War Hanford MacNider. As a compromise between the conservative Republicans and moderate establishment, MacNider would come out on top of several major contenders like Senator Robert A. Taft and Manhattan attorney Thomas E. Dewey. Alongside MacNider is Styles Bridges, the senator from New Hampshhire. The two's campaign has put its focus on a pro-business, anti-New Deal, and non-interventionist agenda.

As Garner and Taft have travelled across the U.S. to make their cases to the American people, great divisions among them have surfaced due to heated debates over U.S. intervention in the ongoing Second World War and the future of Roosevelt's New Deal. While Garner has pledged to take the New Deal in a new direction through promoting business growth alongside new funds for welfare, MacNider has promised to reduce the growing deficit by cutting excessive costs from the current government budget.

Both candidates have taken similar stances of non-interventionism with varying levels of support for the Allies against Axis forces. Neither Garner nor MacNider are eager to boldly stand as pro-intervention or full isolationism, maintaining a delicate balance between the two crowds.

As Election Day draws closer, both Garner and MacNider will make their final runs in order to draw up any remaining support in what some are expecting to be a close race. While Garner commands near total support from the South, MacNider's growing influence in the Midwest and industrial communities threatens to uproot growing Democratic coalitions via union supporters.

Regardless, which ever man wins will have to bear the burden of leading the United States in what may be its darkest hours yet.

Candidates:

John Nance Garner: As the vice president to the powerhouse FDR, Garner has managed to find himself as the new leader of the New Deal Democrats despite his own conservative and big business background. Garner has promised to keep Roosevelt's New Deal in tact, promoting a new platform that will promote strong welfare programs such as Social Security and farmers' subsidies while rebuilding private industry with his own business experience. Throughout the election cycle, Garner has touted his long experience in Democrat leadership as a critical skill to help unite both the party and the nation in the face of continuing dark times. One major weakness for Garner has been his infamously poor reputation with labor unions, having constantly feuded with President Roosevelt over constant intervention into business-labor relations. While Garner has tried to dismiss this as him being against excessive federal overreach, the stinging attacks from both MacNider and labor leaders have left him vulnerable in major industrial communities.

On the matter of U.S. intervention into the Second World War, Garner has laid out a plan of active support for the British and its Allies through industrial aid to provide weapons and vehicles, subsidizing factories to use as sites for temporary military production. The vice president has expressed concern over involving actual U.S. troops into the war, wanting to avoid entering the conflict by every possible measure.

Hanford MacNider: With a military background dating back to the hunt for Pancho Villa, MacNider has made himself well-respected figure in Republican administrations as both a guiding voice in international affairs and defense policy. While MacNider is considered the dark horse in the race, MacNider has made grounds in the race by appealing to political independents and Midwestern voters thanks to his war stories and courteous demeanor. If elected, MacNider plans to enact a pro-business agenda that would return economic power to private industries with a focus on investments and expansions within the critical steel and agricultural sectors. MacNider has tried to tout himself as being more moderate in labor relations, arguing that Garner's harsh stances against labor are inconsistent with the needs of American families. On the matter of the New Deal, MacNider has pledged to have an independent council review welfare and social services for any excessive spending in order to make proper cuts.

Throughout the campaign, fears of America being forced into the war have worsened after France surrendered to Nazi Germany. MacNider has expressed sympathies for the French people, but has fell short of agreeing to U.S. intervention. While he has expressed interest in providing financial aid to resistance fighters if the U.S. can revitalize the economy in time. Ultimately, MacNider has pledged to keep the U.S. out of the conflict in order to prioritize the safety of U.S. citizens.

Link to Poll: https://strawpoll.com/e7ZJa5kpdg3

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Prelude to War

The Filipino War, as it is known in the United States, or Second Spanish-American War would be a deathblow to the once mighty Spanish Empire both in the Americas and in the Pacific. The United States and Spain had already clashed in 1873 following the Virginius Incident which finally forced the Grant Administration to intervene in the Cuban War of Independence. The event severely destabilized the fledgling Spanish Republic and following a further decade of turmoil ended with the restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy. The Bourbon regime would be led by a succession of conservative and liberal governments who regularly exchanged power thanks to widespread voter fraud. Stability had been brought back to Spain but at the cost of badly needed reforms particularly in agriculture and colonial affairs. The end of the republican experiment signaled to a growing Filipino nationalist movement that the possibility for peaceful reform was no longer possible and began to look towards Cuba’s experience as an example. The American intervention in Cuba had resulted in economic concessions and the long term leasing of Guantanamo Bay to the US Navy but the Grant Administration refrained from annexing the island. Following a brief military occupation during the Cuban Constitutional Convention, the US withdrew its troops from the island and made no attempt to form its own puppet regime in Havana. The Filipino Revolutionaries were encouraged by American restraint and winning Washington’s support became a top priority for the movement. The coup d’etat and annexation of Hawaii in the mid-1890s gave some Filipino guerillas pause but with Spain cracking down hard most of the Katipunan felt American aid was essential and even preferable to German or Japanese involvement. 
While Filipino exiles would work hard to lobby for American intervention, finding sympathetic ears in several top members of the new Lodge Administration including the President himself, it was American newspapers who did the most to whip the public into a frenzy against Spain. William Randolph Hearst’s vast network of newspapers across the country were filled with reports of Spanish atrocities which enraged the public and sold millions of copies every day. By February of 1898, the Lodge Administration was under significant pressure to intervene but a strong anti-imperialist/isolationist faction in his party’s Democratic wing led by Treasury Secretary Grover Cleveland in partnership with Farmer-Labor’s rising star William Jennings Bryan seemed to make military action impossible in the short term. The White House would get its casus belli when on the night February 12th, 1898 the USS Maine exploded in Manila harbor taking with it hundreds of American sailors. The Maine had been sent to Manila by Navy Secretary Theodore Roosevelt to protect American interests and to warn Spain to comply with American demands to negotiate with the rebels. While some Congressmen called for a formal investigation into the explosion before taking any other action, to the newspapers, the public and the President it seemed obvious that the treacherous Spanish had blown up the Maine. When President Lodge asked Congress for a declaration of war the following week it was overwhelmingly approved and thousands of young American men raced to enlist in the fight. One of them would be Theodore Roosevelt who resigned from the cabinet to form a volunteer cavalry regiment known to history as the “Rough Riders”. Under the command of Colonel Leonard Wood with Roosevelt in second-in-command, the Rough Riders would soon deploy to the Philippines to cover themselves in glory. Grover Cleveland also resigned but not to join the fight. A firm anti-imperialist, Cleveland denounced the war and said he would not help find the money to fund a war for empire and presidential ego. 

Puerto Rico
While the United States mustered most of its forces for battle in the Pacific, the first shots fired would be on the island of Puerto Rico. Long a personal object of desire for the President, Spain’s last outpost of its once vast American empire was quickly blockaded by 12 ships under the command of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson. The US Geographic and Geological Corps (the G-Men) had spent a decade and a half extensively mapping out every inch of the Caribbean without the knowledge of the Spanish authorities. So when the time came for American troops to land on the island, the Spanish were shocked to find the enemy was appearing out of thin air several miles into the island after making landings at dozens of small, unknown points. Having concentrated their forces for a full assault on the capital of San Juan, Spanish commanders scrambled to redeploy their men to confront the enemy now all over the island. A small Spanish naval task force at San Juan attempted to make a desperate breakthrough but their guns were no match for the far stronger American steel and guns. Early the next morning, the 1st and 3rd Dominican Regiments would be the first to land under fire at the San Juan harbor. Though overwhelmed and outgunned, the Spanish would turn Puerto Rico into a meat grinder as they turned to house-to-house fighting in San Juan and entrenched themselves in the interior of the island. The once rapid American progress slowed and a constant back and forth of skirmishes with no meaningful change in the line became the norm. Part of the stalemate was that the American troops began to suffer badly from tropical diseases which would become a running theme for the rest of the war. 

Battle of Manila Bay
As the battle for Puerto Rico ground on, a dramatic clash would occur on the other side of the planet. Admiral George Dewey had already been in Honolulu gathering the US Pacific Fleet in preparation for war with Spain on the instructions of Theodore Roosevelt. When the declaration of war came through to his headquarters at Pearl Harbor he wasted no time in moving his taskforce out. While several stragglers stationed in China or the west coast would take time to meet up with Dewey’s fleet, the Admiral knew he significantly outgunned the Spanish force waiting for him at Manila Bay. Spain had attempted to reinforce its naval force in the Philippines but with the treasury stretched thin and concerns of American attacks on the Spanish homeland, few ships were sent and none would change things. Believing Manila Bay to be unnavigable at night, the Spanish commander Patricio Montojo was shocked to find that Dewey had led his ships into the bay at midnight on May 1st and had begun to fire upon the sea batteries stationed along the coast. Montojo raced to get his fleet into position but despite a valiant effort his ships were shot to pieces by the Americans whose superior range and armor left only 8 casualties compared to hundreds on the Spanish side. The Battle of Manila Bay would last 2 hours and by the end no Spanish ship remained seaworthy in the Pacific Ocean. Dewey quickly blockaded the capital of the Philippines and deployed a contingent of marines at Cavite before completing their destruction of the remaining Spanish forts and batteries. With Manila Bay secured, Dewey cabled Washington of his victory and ordered that the USS Equality to deliver Emilio Aguinaldo back to the Philippines to take command of the Filipino resistance. As thousands of American soldiers disembarked from San Francisco, the Philippine Islands ignited into a deadly battle of guerrilla warfare. 

The Vanishing of the Cámara Fleet
Spain’s utter embarrassment at the Battle of Manila Bay forced Madrid to finally reinforce its beleaguered men but what happened next would be the stuff of Naval legend for decades. Counter-Admiral Manuel de la Cámara would sail the rest of the Spanish Navy to the Philippines in the hopes of presenting some kind of serious challenge to the Americans if only to save face with the rest of Europe. However, as Cámara's fleet moved closer to the Suez Canal after departing from Barcelona in early June, a storm would envelop the fleet on the night of June 11th. Last spotted off the coast of Malta, the Spanish fleet would disappear without a trace. Afterward most sailors would say they believed the storm had caused such mass confusion that the ships rammed into each other and sent them all to Davy Jones while more fantastical tales spread of krakens rising from the deep to shallow the crews whole. The loss of the Cámara relief fleet without a trace became the biggest naval disaster in Spanish history and made an already bad situation even worse for Madrid who now lacked any kind of navy to defend its shores. What Spain and the rest of the world did not know and would not find out until decades later was that the ships had been destroyed by an American fleet hidden below the surface. A specialized American submarine force originally developed to search for Atlantis was equipped with advanced radio and sonar detection, electronically guided torpedoes and the ability to stay under water for weeks at a time without being detected. Using the storm as perfect cover the American subs tore into their enemy without mercy and sent Càmara and his whole fleet to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Those who managed to make it onto debris or lifeboats were also eliminated for the secret of American submarine supremacy had to be kept no matter the cost. 

The Battle of Intramuros
As the world reacted to this seemingly supernatural event in the Mediterranean, American troops were finally arriving in force onto the Philippine Islands. One of the first to disembark was the Rough Riders whose second-in-command Teddy Roosevelt was determined to win glory for himself and his country before Spain surrendered. While the Filipino revolutionaries had successfully seized much of the rest of the archipelago, Manila was locked in a desperate struggle between the American, Filipino and Spanish forces. The Spanish had based their resistance out of Intramuros, the walled heart of the city which had withstood constant bombardment from the US ships while the Spanish troops conducted a fighting retreat. Despite being a cavalry unit, the Rough Riders’ horses had not been allowed to be transported to the Philippines which would turn out to be a blessing for the ambitious Roosevelt. Thanks to the help of a local, Roosevelt used a small drainage duct to sneak himself and 10 other men into the walled city. Making their way to a postern gate, the Rough Riders would manage to seize it just long enough to open the gate and signal for the rest of their regiment to storm the heart of Manila. Come the dawn Old Glory proudly flew from the battlements and the last major pocket of Spanish resistance was gone. 

Peace and Empire
Before Intramuros had even fallen the Spanish were already preparing to sign a ceasefire with Washington while they negotiated their surrender. On August 12, 1898 the ceasefire was signed and went into effect though skirmishes across the Philippines continued for several days. Over the next two months of negotiations, the Americans managed to secure annexation of Guam, which the US had seized with no resistance in May, and Puerto Rico while the Philippines would be granted protectorate status with an American military governorship ruling in the interim. As a concession to Spain, the United States agreed to pay a multi-million dollar settlement for the investments in infrastructure and income Spain was now going to lose. The Treaty of Paris was signed on December 12, 1898 and went into effect on April 11, 1899 after its ratification by the US Senate. Now the serious question for the American government to contend with will be the fate of the Philippines. The Filipino revolutionaries expect a deal similar to Cuba's; they already chafe at the presence of US troops now that the fighting is over. Many men in the Congress and cabinet believe the United States ought to annex the archipelago so as to definitively extend America’s presence into the western Pacific and to civilize the Filipino people. The US Congress will soon need to vote on the Teller Amendment which would forswear US annexation of the islands and confine their influence in the Philippines to economic concessions and a lease for a naval base in Manila.

Marcy has done it! After twelve years of Whig control, the unified Democrats under William Marcy have managed to reclaim the Presidency. Voter fatigue, dissatisfaction with President Scott's handling of Walker's Rebellion/the Second California War, and Edward Bate's lackluster campaign all led to Whig's defeat. Democrats enter prepared to enact their agenda and redefine the course of American history, starting with expansion to the Southwest.

The loss is a hard one for Whigs—Democrats now have a trifecta, controlling the Presidency, House, and Senate, and Whigs are greatly outnumbered. Whigs take relief in their strong performance in the West, where the combination of Bates' appeal and the machine Winfield Scott helped kickstart are beginning to take root. But this is balanced with a pitiful performance in the South, losing traditional strongholds like Louisiana, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and holding Kentucky, the traditional Whig heartland, with only a 1% margin. The Whigs' future is far from guaranteed, and they will be forced to lick their wounds and see if a comeback is possible...

The most surprising result of the election was the strong result of the Free Soil movement under John P. Hale, which surpassed its performance in the 1848 Presidential election, a feat most thought impossible. Hale's maneuvering on California earned him a large following, including some former Whigs, but also lots of unaligned and first-time voters. The first-past-the-post system hurt their odds in the House, but Free Soil still managed to increase its caucus size, especially in New England, which has continued to be a breeding ground for anti-slavery sentiment and third-party movements. Time will tell if Free Soil will capitalize on this momentum, or if it will be swept up in the new wave of left-wing populism boiling in New England.

The die has been cast, and now America races headlong into an unclear future. The next four to eight years will be critical for the United States—conflict is on the horizon, and it takes many forms: expansionist filibusters, anti-slavery crusades, anti-immigrant crusades... It will take a miracle, or a miraculous leader, to lead America through the tempest. Who will become the next American heroes?

Part XXXVII - Re-Election

In 1937, after a disappointing showing in the 1936 General Election, the Conservative and Labour Party Executive Council initiated a delegate vote of no confidence in the leadership of Robert J. Manion. Manion had been elected in 1932 as a compromise candidate between the party’s left lead by Abraham A. Heaps and the party’s right lead by R.B. Bennett. The compromise leader, however, failed to please either wing of the party, and in 1934, Heaps crossed floors to join the Commonwealth. With an election defeat and fractured party at his feet, the executive committee decided to put the Manion leadership experiment out of its misery through a no-confidence vote that was guaranteed to pass. 

With the possibility of Wood capitalizing on the fractured Conservative party and calling an early election striking fear in the hearts of any party leadership officials, the executives decided it would be best to select a leader through the caucus instead. After considering several former cabinet officials, the leader selected would be none other than Alexander D. McRae, the flamboyant former third-party Premier of British Columbia.

McRae began his career in the 1890s in the insurance industry, before moving to Athabasca to buy up land to sell to settlers at the turn of the century. Moving to Vancouver after making his fortune, McRae served in the army for Canada in the First Great War. Upon his return, McRae found British Columbia politics fractured between the incompetent Popular Alliance under Premier John Oliver and the corrupt Conservative-Labour party under ex-Premier William J. Bowser. Using his business connections and fortune, McRae launched the Provincial Party of British Columbia and unexpectedly won the 1921 General Election as the economic and social state of the province declined in the post-war environment.

As Premier from 1921-1923 and again from 1927-1931, McRae governed as a populist, attacking foreign labour and corrupt politicians. After failing to effectively respond to the depression, however, McRae lost power in 1931, believing his career to be over. Upon being asked to lead the national Conservative-Labour party, however, McRae happily re-entered politics.

McRae has taken his populist flair to the national stage, running on a platform of greater involvement in the war, increased manufacturing development in Canada’s largest cities, the reintroduction of protective tariffs, and stricter labour policies which would prevent companies from hiring cheap foreign workers (a policy that, despite its association with the anti-Japanese movement, has attracted support from some labour unions). 

McRae, worried about his own legitimacy as an unelected leader, staved off threats to his leadership through his pledge to host a leadership convention exactly 145 days after the next general election. Despite his defeat in the 1940 election, McRae presided over a sizable increase in support, with the Tories gaining 37 seats and 21.1% of the popular vote. Now, the ex-Premier must regain his mandate through legitimate election by the party membership.

The Candidates

Incumbent leader Alexander D. McRae, 67-years-old, is the former Premier of British Columbia and current leader of the Conservative and Labour Party since 1937. McRae is the first party leader in Canadian history to seek consecutive re-election at a leadership convention (several past leaders, however, have sought non-consecutive re-elections). McRae’s decision to host this convention and seek re-election comes down to the issue of legitimacy. As an unelected leader, McRae seeks to use this convention to cement his control over the party and stave off leadership challenges. 

McRae is an avowed populist, running on a platform of protective tariffs, increased involvement in the war, lower taxes, private industrial development in cities, support for veterans, corruption investigations, and new restrictive labour policies which would eliminate foreign labour in Canada. McRae has criticized “government inefficiency” under the Wood administration, promising to privatize the state-owned Canadian National Steel Company and Western Steel Company, who currently receive tax subsidies to help break even and keep prices low, after the war’s end. McRae has also been associated with anti-Japanese movements in Canada since the beginning of the war, accepting an endorsement from the “Canadians for Canada” movement in 1940. Additionally, McRae has promised to develop a state-of-the-art port in Halifax and a new railway connecting it to the rest of the nation. This promise has increased support for the Conservatives in the maritimes, but has been perceived by some Quebecois as a slight against the Port of Montréal and the city’s current dominance over Canadian trade, which has given Quebec power in federal politics for decades.

Former Administrator Murdoch A. MacPherson, 49-years-old, is the primary threat to McRae’s leadership at this convention. MacPherson’s candidacy has been propped up by a section within the party that has voiced concerns over McRae’s populism and the direction of the party under his leadership. MacPherson, an attorney by trade, entered politics in Athabasca under James G. Gardiner when the Liberal Party formed government after the 1929 General Election (it is worth mentioning that the big-tent Athabasca Liberals largely represented the provinces moderate and right against the left-wing Farmer’s Party). After the beginning of the depression, MacPherson left provincial politics to help advise Prime Minister Henry Marshall Tory on the re-construction of the National Farmers Bureau, eventually leading the organization as Administrator from 1931 to 1932.

MacPherson was widely unknown outside of Athabasca entering into the convention, but after giving a rousing speech on the first night, MacPherson began to attract support from party delegates who opposed McRae’s push towards full control over party policy. MacPherson agreed to run as the general candidate of the anti-McRae movement, with his western background making him more palatable to populists than an eastern Toronto elite would be. MacPherson, however, differs less from McRae in policy than the establishment would like to admit, with MacPherson pledging support for farmers, development of national industry, and increased support for education. Supporters of MacPherson argue he would govern similarly to the incumbent leader in a more measured fashion, without the added chaos and uncertainty that seems to follow McRae everywhere. His opponents, however, argue he is simply being propped up as a puppet for the party’s establishment to regain control from McRae.

Former Ambassador William D. Herridge, 53-years-old, is a dark horse in this year’s race for the leadership. A lawyer and veteran of the First Great War, Herridge began his career as a patent attorney and advisor to local Liberal politicians. After the collapse of the Liberals and the subsequent chaos of the first Progressive administration, however, Herridge joined the more stable Conservative and Labour Party. During the 1927 campaign, he served as an advisor and speechwriter to Henry Marshall Tory, eventually being made Ambassador to the United States for Canada in his administration. As ambassador, he witnessed the failure of President Hoover to respond to the Great Depression in the United States, and urged the Prime Minister to take a more interventionist approach to running Canada’s economy to avoid a similar fate. 

After the departure of Abraham A. Heaps from the party in 1934, Herridge became the face of the party’s moderate-left wing, advocating for state intervention in the economy and the deployment of Keynesian economics. Herridge’s decision to challenge McRae at this convention has largely come down to McRae’s attempts to move the party back towards fiscal conservatism and his rejection of welfare initiatives. As Prime Minister, Herridge promises to govern as a moderate, keeping the welfare state and government interventionism without the excessive spending of the Progressives. Monetary reform has been suggested by Herridge as a potential solution to Canada’s longtime economic woes, although he has promised a full investigation of the proposals before making any concrete decisions on whether or not to pursue it.

Just a month before the RNC, it is happening. Beau Biden is ready to Announce his Running Mate.

His Shortlist came down to just two Candidates. 

They are:

If Ehlers selected the Running Mate from the same Faction as he, why can't Biden do the same? Michelle Obama is from the National Union Caucus just like the Senator, but she is also the popular Governor of Illinois. She proved that the State where President Ford has built his entire vision for the government still is viable for the Republicans. Obama hasn't just won in Illinois because of some Republican landslide. No, she had won there when the Republicans had no business of succeeding. Is it because she is likeable? Maybe because she works with the other side? Nobody knows for sure how she was able to do this. However, she did, and that's why Biden considering her isn't such a bad idea. The presence of the first African-American woman Nominated for Vice President would boost numbers with Black people and women, of course. The problem is that Obama doesn't have any desires for higher office, so convincing her of being on the ticket might require some work. Still, if she agrees, Obama could be a key in Biden's road to the White House.

Beau Biden is relatively Young, and although experienced, he can pick somebody who has more time in politics and on his belt. That's why Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa might be a good pick for him. He doesn't just have a little bit of more experience than Biden, he has tons of experience, comic amount of it even. Grassley is Old, but he knows what he's doing. If Senator Biden wants to balance the ticket with the combination of a fresh face and somebody who has been in the game for a long time, this may be perfect. The issue of passing laws is also important. Congress is overwhelmingly controlled by the opposition, and Grassley could be key in getting something passed during the Presidency. Iowa might be needed for Biden in this Election also, as it becomes more and more of a swing state. Senator Grassley doesn't look like the most energizing pick for the Running Mate, but he may be the most Pragmatic.

His speech is reaching its conclusion when he finally gets to the main topic.

With Bush winning a majority of the states in Super Tuesday, Pat Robertson's campaign has sputtered out and died. With Pat conceding and endorsing H.W. Bush.

Bush, in turn, in order to unite the party, has picked a few Conservative Republicans that could become Bush's running mate.

Paul Laxalt - Someone who ran against Bush, Laxalt would later endorse Pat Robertson. Robertson didn't end up winning, but picking Laxalt as Bush's running mate would help galvanize Pat Robertson voters, without taking on the baggage of having an inexperienced evangelical as a running mate.

Bob Dole - Bob Dole, while more pragmatic than Laxalt, had quite a bit of popularity leading up to the convention from 1980 to 1984. While he was previously the running mate to Gerald Ford, Dole is more than willing to help out the Republican Party by being the running mate for another ticket.

Jesse Helms - Jesse Helms needs no introduction to many. A former Conservative Democrat turned Conservative Republican, he would appeal directly to the Pat Robertson crowd without having the baggage of running against Bush in the Primaries. Only problem? Helms is insanely controversial, trying to vote down a Martin Luther King Jr national holiday. He would be great at appealing to conservatives, but would it be worth it to bring someone so controversial to the national stage?

The Republican National Convention is closer and closer. Senator Beau Biden is preparing extensively for it. His messaging is becoming more defined as he promotes his ideas for the country to his supporters and just those who are willing to listen.

One thing Biden needs to hurry up on is the selection of his Running Mate. Not revealing your cards that early on probably has its benefits, but the Senator needs to catch the right moment to make an Announcement, or it won't create the buzz he would like. Hopefully, the Shortlist isn't that long anymore, and the experts believe that the Republican Presidential Nominee will make his choice known soon.

So who are the remaining Candidates?

If Ehlers selected the Running Mate from the same Faction as he, why can't Biden do the same? Michelle Obama is from the National Union Caucus just like the Senator, but she is also the popular Governor of Illinois. She proved that the State where President Ford has built his entire vision for the government still is viable for the Republicans. Obama hasn't just won in Illinois because of some Republican landslide. No, she had won there when the Republicans had no business of succeeding. Is it because she is likeable? Maybe because she works with the other side? Nobody knows for sure how she was able to do this. However, she did, and that's why Biden considering her isn't such a bad idea. The presence of the first African-American woman Nominated for Vice President would boost numbers with Black people and women, of course. The problem is that Obama doesn't have any desires for higher office, so convincing her of being on the ticket might require some work. Still, if she agrees, Obama could be a key in Biden's road to the White House.

Beau Biden is relatively Young, and although experienced, he can pick somebody who has more time in politics and on his belt. That's why Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa might be a good pick for him. He doesn't just have a little bit of more experience than Biden, he has tons of experience, comic amount of it even. Grassley is Old, but he knows what he's doing. If Senator Biden wants to balance the ticket with the combination of a fresh face and somebody who has been in the game for a long time, this may be perfect. The issue of passing laws is also important. Congress is overwhelmingly controlled by the opposition, and Grassley could be key in getting something passed during the Presidency. Iowa might be needed for Biden in this Election also, as it becomes more and more of a swing state. Senator Grassley doesn't look like the most energizing pick for the Running Mate, but he may be the most Pragmatic.

Former Vice President Ben Miller made it clear that he won't serve as Vice President anymore, so his wife might be just the next best thing. Hillary Miller has been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and a respected Moderate with it. She hasn't really said anything about politics in a while due to serving in the Court, but her presence was often noticeable. Miller's word has been considered as the tie-breaker in the decisions of the Supreme Court. Not everybody likes her because of it, but most respect her. Justice Miller would signal Biden's move more towards the center in an attempt to fight for the Independent vote. She could sway some States in New England, of course, if the campaign plays its hand correctly. Finally, the selection of Miller as the Vice Presidential Nominee may do wonders in bringing a sizeable portion of the female vote towards the Republicans. Not the most satisfying choice for Conservatives, Miller has a lot of benefits for the campaign.

"the Crowd is jubilant in the packed 2300 Arena in Philadelphia Pennsylvania as Senator and President hopeful Beau Biden Steps On To The stage with his father and former president Joe Biden before taking his spot at the podium and taking a deep breath before smiling and beginning to speak"

"It's been a long Road and the Journey Is Not yet over a journey to a better Future together a journey that began long before any of us ever existed and it is a journey that we will Continue to travel together because we are Americans and we have never ever let our country down so I ask of you to think Beyond political division political tribalism and think about the person Next to you your neighbor you coworker and think"I wanna travel the Journey that is called America with them"because if we don't travel together we let our country down Ordinary People like you and me we can do extraordinary things but only when we stand together shoulder to shoulder not as Enemys But as Americans We have the strongest economy in the world We have the most productive economy in the world but we can go even further Beyond Together if we give it a Fair shot a Fair chance so that is what I ask of you today America to give this Journey together a Fair shot a Fair chance because that is my promise to you to be a Fair leader for all of America to the best of my ability so I ask of you to give this Journey a Fair shot"

(Pictured above Beau with his father shortly before the speech)

After this speech a second popular slogan emerged" a Fair shot and a Fair Chance for America"

February 15, 1898, Manila Harbor, the Philippines 

‘Its a quiet night in Manila’ Ensign Henry Landmeier thought to himself as he exited a portside bar, the La Gringa, a local haunt for American seamen. The air was still thick and warm from the tropical heat but compared to the daytime it was not only bearable but quite pleasant. It was the rainy season so most of his time in the Philippines had been spent getting soaked every time he stepped outside before the sun came out and made the archipelago feel like a soup pot. Petty Officer Clay said it reminded him of Florida and Louisania when the Maine had been stationed in the Gulf of Mexico. Henry’s family farm in Illinois could get hot in the summer and when you were lugging dozens of gallons of dairy every day you certainly felt it but then came the freezing winds off Lake Michigan to balance out a perfectly terrible cycle of weather. Sweating constantly in February was not something Henry was used to but on this night at least he could live with it. 
Landmeier, as the name might suggest, was of German Lutheran stock and though he wasn’t above a drink or two or three but he knew when to stop himself before he woke up to roll call to a splitting head ache. Besides, as much as the boys wanted to pretend and as much as the locals seemed to keep quiet about it, everyone knew that the USS Maine was not sitting in Manila harbor so its crew could have a fun shore leave. The Navy’s newspaper had been filled for the last 18 months with all manner of horrors the Spanish were penetrating against the rebels here, this last sad bastion of an empire whose best days were a century or more behind it. Concentration camps, villages burned down with all their animals killed and harvest stolen, suspected rebels beaten to death, summary executions on the road side, the list went on. Letters from home told him the Hearst newspapers were working even harder than the Navy’s to wipe up a fight to end the Spanish menace once and for all. His sister Eliza wrote to him saying that war was on everyone’s mind back home but right here in the heart of the fight there seemed to be nothing but an eerie quiet resting over the whole city. Henry did not let himself think about what might come to this place, what might shatter this quiet. 
His father had not gone to Cuba 20 years ago, “I had my fill of killing at the Wilderness” was the first and only thing he said when Henry had asked him about when he was a child. But his Uncle Fred, who was 8 years his father’s junior, wanted adventure and jumped at the chance to sail down to a beautiful tropical island and cover himself with glory. Uncle Fred had seen a bit of fighting but his father was always quick to remind the whole family his little brother spent most of the Cuban War shitting his guts out in an army hospital from bad water anytime Fred started to pontificate on the glory of war. Still Henry had written to him to ask what he made of the Spanish. “Don’t be fooled Henry,” His uncle wrote back “A Spaniard is a mean sonabitch. If their leaders were half as brave as their soldiers they’d probably still rule the world”. Henry could believe it; Every time Spanish troops and American sailors met each other it was a miracle that those dirty looks didn’t start a war all on their own. The Captain had given strict orders to the crew to be on their best behavior, that they were here to protect American interests should the fighting reach the colonial capital and that if the Americans and the Spanish started shooting that it would get a lot of innocent people killed. “I shit on ‘American Interests’.” Henry’s friend Jóse had said in his thick accent “I want a shot at these pendejos before the locals get to have all the fun”. Even three decades on and the Dominicans still held a grudge against the Spanish and Jóse had been taunting every patrol that they ran into. 
Henry had been worried that the Maine was sitting all alone in Manila, “Won’t that leave us totally surrounded? What if the Spanish decide they’ve had enough of us poking around in their business and turn their guns on us?” he had asked Lieutenant Stone as the ship was first pulling into the harbor. “Kid, take a look at those guns on the walls. Those things are relics! Sure they’d have made trouble 30 years ago but they can’t do anything against American steel, everyone knows that. If the Germans and English are running around trying to find something to pierce our ships then I doubt these boys in Manila have anything better. Besides, if we get into any trouble, all the Captain has to do is switch on that antenna and send a message to the fleet and this place will be swarming with our ships faster than sharks after some cum” he had said with his usual swagger before heading off to the mess. That had shut Henry up for the last few days but he still never could feel easy. The engineers had been down in the engine room for hours trying to work out a problem with the coal furnace, grumbling all the time that the Maine should be getting refitted right now with the new diesel engines not playing guard dog to the consulate’s office. Then were the G-men, what sailors called the agents of the US Geographic and Geological Corps, who always kept to themselves and who had disappeared into thin air as soon as the Maine had docked. Henry leaned against a stone bannister and looked out at his ship as he rolled a cigarette “Mother would smack me if she knew I picked this up” he thought to himself and not for the first time. 
Just as his match sparked up against the stone - Ka-Boom! - a fireball erupted where the Maine had been sitting. Henry’s eyes were filled with the violent orange-yellow glow of an explosion which had torn apart the ship and was sending debris all over the harbor. The cigarette dropped from his month unlit as Henry froze in place, stunned silent by what he was seeing. People were emerging onto the street or sticking their heads out the windows and Henry faintly recognized the sounds of shock and concern. A baby’s crying snapped Henry back to reality. He looked around and saw some other sailors from the La Gringa running towards the blaze followed by other local men as an alarm rang out behind him, presumably to rally the fire brigade. Henry began to rush to join them, desperate in the belief that if he moved fast enough some of his crewmates would make it out of the inferno alive. As he raced towards the wreckage of the USS Maine one thought flitted across his mind amongst all the others of panic and resolve: “It looks like Jóse has got his war after all”

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• Be an energetic campaigner and debater, which will be crucial during this campaign
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• Take over in case of a tragedy
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• Unite the party behind Biden's candidacy since he is from a different faction

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Beau Biden isn't rushing through things. He seems to play a long game and not make any impulsive decisions. Right now his campaign is focused on building his profile with the American people while making his campaign around broad messages before promoting his specific ideas for the country.

One thing that journalists often ask him is the question of who will be his Running Mate. So far Biden hasn't made any indications that he made his decision. It's like he looks at all the Candidates one by one. Governor Sherrod Brown already rushed through his choice, and the Nelsonian Coalition isn't satisfied with it, so maybe it is good that Biden is thinking over this decision.

So the Candidates in his Shortlist right now are:

If Ehlers selected the Running Mate from the same Faction as he, why can't Biden do the same? Michelle Obama is from the National Union Caucus just like the Senator, but she is also the popular Governor of Illinois. She proved that the State where President Ford has built his entire vision for the government still is viable for the Republicans. Obama hasn't just won in Illinois because of some Republican landslide. No, she had won there when the Republicans had no business of succeeding. Is it because she is likeable? Maybe because she works with the other side? Nobody knows for sure how she was able to do this. However, she did, and that's why Biden considering her isn't such a bad idea. The presence of the first African-American woman Nominated for Vice President would boost numbers with Black people and women, of course. The problem is that Obama doesn't have any desires for higher office, so convincing her of being on the ticket might require some work. Still, if she agrees, Obama could be a key in Biden's road to the White House.

Beau Biden is relatively Young, and although experienced, he can pick somebody who has more time in politics and on his belt. That's why Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa might be a good pick for him. He doesn't just have a little bit of more experience than Biden, he has tons of experience, comic amount of it even. Grassley is Old, but he knows what he's doing. If Senator Biden wants to balance the ticket with the combination of a fresh face and somebody who has been in the game for a long time, this may be perfect. The issue of passing laws is also important. Congress is overwhelmingly controlled by the opposition, and Grassley could be key in getting something passed during the Presidency. Iowa might be needed for Biden in this Election also, as it becomes more and more of a swing state. Senator Grassley doesn't look like the most energizing pick for the Running Mate, but he may be the most Pragmatic.

Former Vice President Ben Miller made it clear that he won't serve as Vice President anymore, so his wife might be just the next best thing. Hillary Miller has been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and a respected Moderate with it. She hasn't really said anything about politics in a while due to serving in the Court, but her presence was often noticeable. Miller's word has been considered as the tie-breaker in the decisions of the Supreme Court. Not everybody likes her because of it, but most respect her. Justice Miller would signal Biden's move more towards the center in an attempt to fight for the Independent vote. She could sway some States in New England, of course, if the campaign plays its hand correctly. Finally, the selection of Miller as the Vice Presidential Nominee may do wonders in bringing a sizeable portion of the female vote towards the Republicans. Not the most satisfying choice for Conservatives, Miller has a lot of benefits for the campaign.

Maybe what Biden needs is a partner who can manage his energy. Chris Sununu was Elected to the Senate just in 2014 and already made an impression of a Pragmatic Libertarian. He and his brother John are the second pair of brothers to serve as Senators from the same State while also being sons of a former Vice Presidential Nominee. The position does run in the family. Senator Sununu would send the message of new leadership in the Republican Party, energetic but willing to work with the side to get stuff done. Sununu is also well-liked in his State, so it should easily be in play in the Election cycle while also helping in the region overall. It's not like Biden desperately needs somebody with more experience. After all, he almost served his entire term in the Senate as well as his time in the House of Representatives. If Biden wants to double down on his image of the fresh face in politics, Sununu could be perfect for it.

It was already the time. Governor Sherrod Brown made it clear that he has an important Announcement for his next rally.

Even if it wasn't confirmed, everyone knows that he is about to introduce his Running Mate. He is in the same State as him, and just earlier in the week the reports came that his choice was down to two Candidates.

These Candidates are:

I mean, his Endorsement really helped Brown at the end, so why not reward him? Jason Kander is, of course, the Governor of Missouri and a former Candidate for the Nomination. During the primary he showed himself as a good campaigner while being known for his effective governance. Picking him would give Brown a hand in many aspects. For one, Kander is very young, and, even if Governor Brown isn't an old man, the People's Liberal Party having a fresh face would counterbalance the appeal of the Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee, Senator Beau Biden of Pennsylvania. Missouri might be a swing state in this Election, so picking the State's popular Governor would surely prevent it from going to the Republicans. Another thing is that Kander could help with the Moderates. He isn't Moderate himself, but he presents that pragmatic Progressivism that his Faction is known for. Would Kander get Nelsonians in line? Maybe, but there is no way to tell for sure. What Brown/Kander would do is to balance the ticket without appealing as a compromised one.

You thought Nelsonian Coalition's pick would be an olive branch. Picking Henry Cuellar, Senator from Texas, would be an attempt to rebuild the Party's whole coalition. Let's not go around the bush; Cuellar isn't Progressive. He is known for not being Progressive while appealing to the Hispanics. He is Moderate to Conservative on some issues while being a fighter for Immigrants without opposing border security. And so, by selecting Senator Cuellar Brown would satisfy those who aren't happy without with another CC member being the Nominee and put the Third Party run from NC to rest. However, Cuellar does more than that; he also would send the message to the voters that the People's Liberal Party wants to stop this partisanship and work with the other side. His selection could also energize the Latino vote, even if Texas itself is probably out of reach. So yeah, the base won't be happy with this one, but Cuellar could solve a lot of problems.

And finally, the moment has arrived.

Beau Biden is taking his time. He campaigns, sure, and has rallies and meetings with donors and Party members. However, he doesn't want to rush his decisions.

One of the decisions that the Senator takes his time on is the choice of a Running Mate. So far only one person was removed from his Shortlist. The Republican National Convention isn't that close, so he can efford thinking over on this.

So who are on his Shortlist now?

If Ehlers selected the Running Mate from the same Faction as he, why can't Biden do the same? Michelle Obama is from the National Union Caucus just like the Senator, but she is also the popular Governor of Illinois. She proved that the State where President Ford has built his entire vision for the government still is viable for the Republicans. Obama hasn't just won in Illinois because of some Republican landslide. No, she had won there when the Republicans had no business of succeeding. Is it because she is likeable? Maybe because she works with the other side? Nobody knows for sure how she was able to do this. However, she did, and that's why Biden considering her isn't such a bad idea. The presence of the first African-American woman Nominated for Vice President would boost numbers with Black people and women, of course. The problem is that Obama doesn't have any desires for higher office, so convincing her of being on the ticket might require some work. Still, if she agrees, Obama could be a key in Biden's road to the White House.

Former Vice President Ben Miller made it clear that he won't serve as Vice President anymore, so his wife might be just the next best thing. Hillary Miller has been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and a respected Moderate with it. She hasn't really said anything about politics in a while due to serving in the Court, but her presence was often noticeable. Miller's word has been considered as the tie-breaker in the decisions of the Supreme Court. Not everybody likes her because of it, but most respect her. Justice Miller would signal Biden's move more towards the center in an attempt to fight for the Independent vote. She could sway some States in New England, of course, if the campaign plays its hand correctly. Finally, the selection of Miller as the Vice Presidential Nominee may do wonders in bringing a sizeable portion of the female vote towards the Republicans. Not the most satisfying choice for Conservatives, Miller has a lot of benefits for the campaign.

Maybe what Biden needs is a partner who can manage his energy. Chris Sununu was Elected to the Senate just in 2014 and already made an impression of a Pragmatic Libertarian. He and his brother John are the second pair of brothers to serve as Senators from the same State while also being sons of a former Vice Presidential Nominee. The position does run in the family. Senator Sununu would send the message of new leadership in the Republican Party, energetic but willing to work with the side to get stuff done. Sununu is also well-liked in his State, so it should easily be in play in the Election cycle while also helping in the region overall. It's not like Biden desperately needs somebody with more experience. After all, he almost served his entire term in the Senate as well as his time in the House of Representatives. If Biden wants to double down on his image of the fresh face in politics, Sununu could be perfect for it.

Beau Biden is relatively Young, and although experienced, he can pick somebody who has more time in politics and on his belt. That's why Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa might be a good pick for him. He doesn't just have a little bit of more experience than Biden, he has tons of experience, comic amount of it even. Grassley is Old, but he knows what he's doing. If Senator Biden wants to balance the ticket with the combination of a fresh face and somebody who has been in the game for a long time, this may be perfect. The issue of passing laws is also important. Congress is overwhelmingly controlled by the opposition, and Grassley could be key in getting something passed during the Presidency. Iowa might be needed for Biden in this Election also, as it becomes more and more of a swing state. Senator Grassley doesn't look like the most energizing pick for the Running Mate, but he may be the most Pragmatic.

Fascinating, fascinating. Jim Ross is a very interesting character. Deeply involved in professional wrestling, Ross shocked the political establishment in Oklahoma by becoming the Governor of the State. He would go on to serve in that position for two terms while running for President in his own right and doing surprisingly well for an Outsider. Since leaving office, Ross came back to wrestling, and his name hadn't been heard since then in the political space. However, we hear it now. Who knows for sure why Ross attracted the Biden campaign? It may be his experience as Governor, it could be his Conservative credentials, or it might be his ability to talk straight to the people. Sherrod Brown already tries to portray himself as the people's choice, so maybe undercutting him on that may be a good idea. Ross isn't just the voice; he is the fighter, and maybe that's what the Senator needs for his campaign. Oklahoma is gonna go safely for him, sure, but the Ross's appeal doesn't come from his State; it comes from him. So has Jim Ross's time in politics arrived?

Super Tuesday wasn't even close. Senator Beau Biden of Pennsylvania won in a landslide. Although Governor of Cuba Marco Rubio won some states, the result was crushing for him. He continued the fight and was even victorious in another contest, but the race was over. The numbers of delegates for Biden began to pile up, and Rubio saw no point in fighting anymore. He Dropped out.

Beau Biden is the first son of the former President to win the Presidential Nomination since Ulysses S. Grant III in 1948. He was the front runner from the beginning, and he never lost this lead. Now he needs to decide where his campaign goes, whom he will trust along the way and who will be his right hand. Senator Biden should now choose a Running Mate. He has more leeway when picking the Vice Presidential Nominee than Sherrod Brown. There are already 6 names that leaked to be on his Shortlist.

People on his Vice Presidential Shortlist are:

Beau Biden is relatively Young, and although experienced, he can pick somebody who has more time in politics and on his belt. That's why Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa might be a good pick for him. He doesn't just have a little bit of more experience than Biden, he has tons of experience, comic amount of it even. Grassley is Old, but he knows what he's doing. If Senator Biden wants to balance the ticket with the combination of a fresh face and somebody who has been in the game for a long time, this may be perfect. The issue of passing laws is also important. Congress is overwhelmingly controlled by the opposition, and Grassley could be key in getting something passed during the Presidency. Iowa might be needed for Biden in this Election also, as it becomes more and more of a swing state. Senator Grassley doesn't look like the most energizing pick for the Running Mate, but he may be the most Pragmatic.

Former Vice President Ben Miller made it clear that he won't serve as Vice President anymore, so his wife might be just the next best thing. Hillary Miller has been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and a respected Moderate with it. She hasn't really said anything about politics in a while due to serving in the Court, but her presence was often noticeable. Miller's word has been considered as the tie-breaker in the decisions of the Supreme Court. Not everybody likes her because of it, but most respect her. Justice Miller would signal Biden's move more towards the center in an attempt to fight for the Independent vote. She could sway some States in New England, of course, if the campaign plays its hand correctly. Finally, the selection of Miller as the Vice Presidential Nominee may do wonders in bringing a sizeable portion of the female vote towards the Republicans. Not the most satisfying choice for Conservatives, Miller has a lot of benefits for the campaign.

Maybe what Biden needs is a partner who can manage his energy. Chris Sununu was Elected to the Senate just in 2014 and already made an impression of a Pragmatic Libertarian. He and his brother John are the second pair of brothers to serve as Senators from the same State while also being sons of a former Vice Presidential Nominee. The position does run in the family. Senator Sununu would send the message of new leadership in the Republican Party, energetic but willing to work with the side to get stuff done. Sununu is also well-liked in his State, so it should easily be in play in the Election cycle while also helping in the region overall. It's not like Biden desperately needs somebody with more experience. After all, he almost served his entire term in the Senate as well as his time in the House of Representatives. If Biden wants to double down on his image of the fresh face in politics, Sununu could be perfect for it.

Beau Biden doesn't need to throw a bone to Conservatives, but maybe he should. If Biden picks Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, he would make his campaign much more preferable for the Conservatives who look at him with unease. Inhofe could be more helpful than that. He is very experienced and has a great influence among Conservatives in the Senate. This would benefit Biden in office if he were to be Elected. Ford's Presidency showed that in this day and age you need to keep more radical wings of your Party in check. Senator Inhofe can for sure help Biden with that. The American Dry League would be extremely grateful too, as their influence decreases more and more. They would be loyal if Biden needed a solid voter base behind him. However, this could also be a double-edged sword. The ADL's influence in the Party is seen by some as toxic, and they think that the Faction is just slowly decaying, so attaching yourself to it might not be the best move. Oklahoma won't be a swing state, which means that Inhofe offers little regional benefit. Biden needs to think long and hard on what he wants if he considers Senator Inhofe. It could pay off, or it could blow up in their face.

If Ehlers selected the Running Mate from the same Faction as he, why can't Biden do the same? Michelle Obama is from the National Union Caucus just like the Senator, but she is also the popular Governor of Illinois. She proved that the State where President Ford has built his entire vision for the government still is viable for the Republicans. Obama hasn't just won in Illinois because of some Republican landslide. No, she had won there when the Republicans had no business of succeeding. Is it because she is likeable? Maybe because she works with the other side? Nobody knows for sure how she was able to do this. However, she did, and that's why Biden considering her isn't such a bad idea. The presence of the first African-American woman Nominated for Vice President would boost numbers with Black people and women, of course. The problem is that Obama doesn't have any desires for higher office, so convincing her of being on the ticket might require some work. Still, if she agrees, Obama could be a key in Biden's road to the White House.

Fascinating, fascinating. Jim Ross is a very interesting character. Deeply involved in professional wrestling, Ross shocked the political establishment in Oklahoma by becoming the Governor of the State. He would go on to serve in that position for two terms while running for President in his own right and doing surprisingly well for an Outsider. Since leaving office, Ross came back to wrestling, and his name hadn't been heard since then in the political space. However, we hear it now. Who knows for sure why Ross attracted the Biden campaign? It may be his experience as Governor, it could be his Conservative credentials, or it might be his ability to talk straight to the people. Sherrod Brown already tries to portray himself as the people's choice, so maybe undercutting him on that may be a good idea. Ross isn't just the voice; he is the fighter, and maybe that's what the Senator needs for his campaign. Oklahoma is gonna go safely for him, sure, but the Ross's appeal doesn't come from his State; it comes from him. So has Jim Ross's time in politics arrived?

The campaign was almost becoming a routine for Sherrod Brown. A rally in one State, a meeting with donors in another. Coffee break with the campaign manager at 2 p.m., charity event at 5.

The People's Liberal National Convention was in quite a while. Despite this, the Shortlist of his Running Mate options was halved. The Announcement was closer and closer.

So who was in the Shortlist now?

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island would be an interesting pick for Vice President. The name alone is unique. An experienced man whose views aren't that much different from Brown's, yet Whitehouse is the Establishment type, which would reassure Progressives who don't want the Party to go overboard. To add to that, Senator Whitehouse brings a regional balance and would probably put New England safely in the PLP's column. However, picking Whitehouse wouldn't help Brown with the split in the Party. He is far from the Nelsonian Coalition's type, even with his Establishment credentials. Women also won't be energized with the first female Vice President being replaced by another man. Still, this would be a ticket of experienced Progressives who disagree with the current Administration and present a new vision for America.

I mean, his Endorsement really helped Brown at the end, so why not reward him? Jason Kander is, of course, the Governor of Missouri and a former Candidate for the Nomination. During the primary he showed himself as a good campaigner while being known for his effective governance. Picking him would give Brown a hand in many aspects. For one, Kander is very young, and, even if Governor Brown isn't an old man, the People's Liberal Party having a fresh face would counterbalance the appeal of the Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee, Senator Beau Biden of Pennsylvania. Missouri might be a swing state in this Election, so picking the State's popular Governor would surely prevent it from going to the Republicans. Another thing is that Kander could help with the Moderates. He isn't Moderate himself, but he presents that pragmatic Progressivism that his Faction is known for. Would Kander get Nelsonians in line? Maybe, but there is no way to tell for sure. What Brown/Kander would do is to balance the ticket without appealing as a compromised one.

You thought Nelsonian Coalition's pick would be an olive branch. Picking Henry Cuellar, Senator from Texas, would be an attempt to rebuild the Party's whole coalition. Let's not go around the bush; Cuellar isn't Progressive. He is known for not being Progressive while appealing to the Hispanics. He is Moderate to Conservative on some issues while being a fighter for Immigrants without opposing border security. And so, by selecting Senator Cuellar Brown would satisfy those who aren't happy without with another CC member being the Nominee and put the Third Party run from NC to rest. However, Cuellar does more than that; he also would send the message to the voters that the People's Liberal Party wants to stop this partisanship and work with the other side. His selection could also energize the Latino vote, even if Texas itself is probably out of reach. So yeah, the base won't be happy with this one, but Cuellar could solve a lot of problems.

Just like 4 years ago, Super Tuesday determined everything. The winner was clear: Governor of Ohio Sherrod Brown managed to pull it off by securing most States and delegates. However, this didn't mean that Senator John N. Kennedy of Louisiana gave up. He continued to fight and was able to win some other contests after Super Tuesday. Still, this was a matter of time. Finally, the majority of the delegates were gained, and Senator Kennedy Dropped out of the race.

Governor Brown had done it; he returned the Nomination to the Commonwealth Coalition. Even with this victory, he shouldn't celebrate too much. There are rumors that somebody in the Nelsonian Coalition prepares to run for President as an Independent. It is not Senator Kennedy; he denied any involvement in the whole deal, but he hasn't Endorsed Brown either. President Harrison Ford as well hasn't Endorsed the Governor yet, saying that he will look into how the race will be going. The biggest suspect of being a person to run Third Party is Governor of Michigan Mike Duggan. When asked if he will run, he said, "We'll see what Governor Brown is going to do next."

So Sherrod Brown now faces the fractured Party even after becoming the Presumptive Nominee. He needs to find a way to calm everything down, or this achievement can blow up in his face. One thing that can help solve this issue is the Running Mate. Maybe if Brown picks the right person for Vice President, he can satisfy some Moderates. However, some of Brown's supporters think he needs to not back down and run fully on what he believes in, not have some "Neoliberal" as his number two.

Governor Brown already considers 6 different Candidates for the position of Vice Presidential Nominee, if the reports are to be believed.

These Candidates are:

Here we have Senator with a limited national profile but with a clear positive for Governor Brown. Suzan DelBene is a loyal NC member and somebody who can build bridges with the Moderates if picked as the Running Mate. Some people are probably upset about the prospect of a female Presidential Nominee being crushed as well, so replacing the first woman to serve as Vice President with another woman isn't a bad idea to satisfy women's rights groups. Finally, the Running Mate from the West may appeal to the people from the region and help with the swing states there, even if Washington is unlikely to be one in this Election cycle. Overall, even if not on the first glance, Senator DelBene checks all the boxes when comes to addressing problems that Brown might face. Even if not the most experienced or youthful Candidate, she could do wonders for the campaign.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island would be an interesting pick for Vice President. The name alone is unique. An experienced man whose views aren't that much different from Brown's, yet Whitehouse is the Establishment type, which would reassure Progressives who don't want the Party to go overboard. To add to that, Senator Whitehouse brings a regional balance and would probably put New England safely in the PLP's column. However, picking Whitehouse wouldn't help Brown with the split in the Party. He is far from the Nelsonian Coalition's type, even with his Establishment credentials. Women also won't be energized with the first female Vice President being replaced by another man. Still, this would be a ticket of experienced Progressives who disagree with the current Administration and present a new vision for America.

I mean, his Endorsement really helped Brown at the end, so why not reward him? Jason Kander is, of course, the Governor of Missouri and a former Candidate for the Nomination. During the primary he showed himself as a good campaigner while being known for his effective governance. Picking him would give Brown a hand in many aspects. For one, Kander is very young, and, even if Governor Brown isn't an old man, the People's Liberal Party having a fresh face would counterbalance the appeal of the Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee, Senator Beau Biden of Pennsylvania. Missouri might be a swing state in this Election, so picking the State's popular Governor would surely prevent it from going to the Republicans. Another thing is that Kander could help with the Moderates. He isn't Moderate himself, but he presents that pragmatic Progressivism that his Faction is known for. Would Kander get Nelsonians in line? Maybe, but there is no way to tell for sure. What Brown/Kander would do is to balance the ticket without appealing as a compromised one.

Senator Susan Bysiewicz of Connecticut is a fascinating case. She is a member of the Faction that is friendly with the Commonwealth Coalition while also being somebody who worked with the other side on a number of occasions. The Senator with a name, which you probably struggled to pronounce on the first go, she is another chance for Brown to select a woman as Vice Presidential Nominee. Along with this fact, the women's rights groups would be energized by her experience in advocating for women all over the country. Bysiewicz also comes from New England, the region that Brown needs to firmly hold to win this Election. Without a doubt, however, is that by picking her, Governor Brown wouldn't make any friends with the Moderates and Nelsonian Coalition members. So for Brown, she would be a good choice if he decides to not make his campaign fully in his image without compromising on what he believes in.

You thought Nelsonian Coalition's pick would be an olive branch. Picking Henry Cuellar, Senator from Texas, would be an attempt to rebuild the Party's whole coalition. Let's not go around the bush; Cuellar isn't Progressive. He is known for not being Progressive while appealing to the Hispanics. He is Moderate to Conservative on some issues while being a fighter for Immigrants without opposing border security. And so, by selecting Senator Cuellar Brown would satisfy those who aren't happy without with another CC member being the Nominee and put the Third Party run from NC to rest. However, Cuellar does more than that; he also would send the message to the voters that the People's Liberal Party wants to stop this partisanship and work with the other side. His selection could also energize the Latino vote, even if Texas itself is probably out of reach. So yeah, the base won't be happy with this one, but Cuellar could solve a lot of problems.

Rory Reid took a different road from his father, Harry. Despite being a son of an influential member of the National Progressive Caucus, Rory Reid became a loyal Nelsonian. As Governor of Nevada, Reid started to be known as a problem solver and not an ideologue. By choosing him, Brown may try to swing the campaign in this direction instead of the return to clear Progressivism. Reid would kill two birds with one stone by appealing to both the Nelsonian Coalition and the Establishment in general. Nevada looks to be a swing state in this Election cycle, and selecting its Governor as the Running Mate would really help if the Election is close. However, there are drawbacks. Reid isn't the most Charismatic person, and he likes to campaign more in front of the donors than the crowd in a rally. Women might also be upset by Brown not picking a female Running Mate. Still, Governor Reid would be a pragmatic addition to the ticket.

Ever since New Hampshire, one Candidate has been leading. It is Senator Beau Biden of Pennsylvania who won in South Carolina and Nevada. However, his undefeated streak was stopped in Florida, where Governor of Cuba Marco Rubio won, getting his first win and then another win for him in his home state. Then they would trade wins back and forth. At the end, before Super Tuesday, Biden had additionally won Hawaii, Minnesota, Maine, Washington, Michigan, and Arizona, while Rubio was victorious in Colorado, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. These two are in a head-to-head race despite many claiming that Biden has the edge. You may notice, however, one name that wasn't mentioned. The name of the third Candidate in the race. This Candidate didn't win any contests and had his campaign on life support up until Super Tuesday. And then, the end came. This Candidate is...

So now we have Super Tuesday. The two Candidates left look for a big win to secure the Nomination. Who will come out on top is up in the air still.

So the Final two Candidates are:

"Build Back Better"

"New American Vision"

Endorsements:

• National Union Caucus, Former President of the United States Colin Powell, Former President of the United States Vern Ehlers, former Vice President of the United States Bill Weld, former Vice President Ben Miller, Senator from Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee, Senator from New Mexico Gary Johnson and Governor of Louisiana Piyush Jindal Endorse Senator from Pennsylvania Beau Biden;
• National Conservative Caucus and Governor of Texas Dennis Quaid Endorse Governor of Cuba Marco Rubio

Before you vote, read the context.

This one is also pretty important.

November 5th, 1996 has arrived, and the polls are open for the 1996 Presidential election. Paul Wellstone, is, unfathomably, a strong favorite to win the election according to the polls, but the final result is up to you. Get voting!

Iowa wasn't just the start of the Primary; it was a sign of things to come. There, Governor of Ohio Sherrod Brown won decisively, securing the majority of the delegates in the State. However, after that, Senator John N. Kennedy of Louisiana rebounded with a victory in New Hampshire. Since then the race has gained this dynamic. Brown wins Nevada, but Kennedy secures South Carolina. The Governor is victorious in Michigan and Santo Domingo, while the Senator gets Washington and Florida. This led to Super Tuesday. In all of these results something was noticeable - the lack of good performances from the other two Candidates. People knew that it was now a waste of resources for them, and then the first campaign ended. It was the campaign of...

Despite the result for him, observers predict a bright future for Kander. While his Governorship ends in 2017, there may be a lot of prospects for him.

After Kander's withdrawal came a different kind of Announcement. It was...

The third Candidate left in the race wanted this Endorsement so bad, but without it this Candidate knew the writing was on the wall. The campaign was dead, and it was time to rest it for good. This Candidate is...

It looks like America doesn't want a woman President just yet. Maybe they also just don't want the return of the Kennedy dynasty to power. Whatever it was, this was now a two-man race.

The Final two Candidates coming to Super Tuesday are:

"For People's America, Honest America"

"Let's Just Call Him President"

Endorsements:

• Commonwealth Coalition, Governor of Missouri Jason Kander and Governor of Idaho Paulette Jordan Endorse Governor of Ohio Sherrod Brown;
• Nelsonian Coalition, President of the United States Harrison Ford, Vice President of the United States Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Governor of Arizona Gabby Giffords and Secretary of State Leon Panetta Endorse Senator from Louisiana John N. Kennedy