[BillyBoy]

Powell was well to the left of both Dole and Kemp (pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-affirmation action, pro-gays in the military, etc.) which was true back in 1996 as well. Putting him on a GOP ticket, in either the Presidential or Veep slot, would have been similar to having Arlen Specter or Chris Shays as the GOP standbearer.

The ONE thing I think Powell did right in his career was avoiding elective office. He would have been a disaster as President. Basically he'd be a GOP President the same way Earl Warren was a "Republican” Supreme Court judge.

[gundog]

In my scenario, he was pretty much a Geraldine Ferraro pick.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Had he run, and as a “honest” leftist, his surge of support in the GOP would’ve evaporated quickly. Otherwise he might’ve pulled a Willard the Rat and lied about being Conservative outright. Since he turned out to be a truly deceitful, backstabbing weasel, he might’ve gone full Willard.

[Impy]

Unless he was willing to flip flip on abortion I don’t see how he would have done very well in the primaries. The convention would probably have been highly reluctant to put him in for VP for the same reason. McCain was supposedly told a pro-choice VP selection would have triggered a major floor fight.