Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who suffered one of the worst presidential defeats in US history, has died.
Mondale was senator from Minnesota when Jimmy Carter chose him as running mate in 1976. As what was known as a beltway insider, Mondale seemed a perfect compliment to Carter, a largely unknown governor from Georgia. A combination that proved victorious.
In 1980, Carter lost in a landslide to former California governor Ronald Reagan, a hardline Conservative who as a former actor, had mastered the TV medium.
In 1984, Mondale was not always thought of as the best choice, even by Democrats. He did make history by picking the first female VP candidate, Geraldine Ferraro. Although he performed well in a TV debate, Mondale really was unable to gain any traction against the incumbent administration. Mondale would only carry Minnesota and the District Of Columbia.
Mondale would later serve as ambassador to Japan during the Clinton administration.
One of the best vice presidents and he actually won the popular vote to be president and would have been a much better one the one we got.
ReplyDeleteSorry, you may have been mixing Mr. Mondale up with Al Gore. Mondale did not win the popular vote, nor the elect. vote in 1984.
ReplyDelete