Jackson ran for president in both 1972 and 1976.
He ran too, in 1960, 1964, and 1968.
Senator Sam Nunn from Georgia was always considered a potential presidential candidate but never ran. I think he preferred being the Sunday talk show guy more than stomping through snow in Iowa and New Hampshire.
OHHH I thought you meant “if had won the nomination.” Had Jackson won the nomination, he’d have won. He’s still my historic Democratic hero.
Nancy Pelosi. Tip O’Neill.
No. He would not have defeated Wahington in the first ever election, as Washington received an unanimous vote in the Electoral College. Franklin died one year after that election at the age of 84. He would have been 89 after Washington’s second term.
George Voinovich was a very popular, moderate Republican from Ohio whom I think would have had a fair chance to win a POTUS election, but never pursued it. He went from Mayor of Cleveland to Ohio Governor to Senator. In 1996 Bob Dole’s campaign considered Voinovich as the VP running mate, but Voinovich declined so that he could focus on working in the Senate.
Yes, absolutely. Sherman is probably the canonical answer to this question. Many Republicans urged him to run for the 1884 nomination after he retired from the Army in 1883. It’s entirely plausible that he could have won the nomination at the convention, and been elected, on the strength of his military reputation alone. US Grant had done so in 1868. Also, Sherman’s brother was a well-known and powerful Senator, influential within the party. Instead he issued his famous statement, “If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.”
Never. Pelosi and O’Neill would have strictly partisan appeal, and likely would not do any better than Newt Gingrich in a national election.
It’s amazing the number of respected members of the House and Senate who actually took a shot at running for President and failed to get any traction.
Yeah, one of the best political ‘Fuck You’s’ in all of history. Go 'way boy, ya bother me.
Powell, sure. Along with Cuomo are the obvious choices. Going further back Robert Lansing, SecState under Wilson, would have had a shot if he’d ever wanted it. However much he might be disliked, John Foster Dulles would certainly have been a contender had he ever decided to run.
There’s a book about how awesome Lincoln’s cabinet was. There were certainly several of them who THOUGHT that they’d be better President’s that was Lincoln. Seward, Stanton and a few others had the gravitas to win the election if they could get the nomination. I’d say after Seward, Salmon Chase would be the leader of this pack.
Amusing aside: Lincoln nominated Chase as Chief Justice of the SCOTUS on December 4, 1864. The Senate confirmed him that same day and he began to serve immediately. Man, times change.
Colin Powell came to my mind also. I suspect any democrat who won the 1980 primary would have beaten Ford.
Except Reagan was the Republican nominee.
Oops! I meant in 1976.
How about Charles Lindbergh in 1928? I’ve always thought his fame was several orders of magnitude higher than his actual accomplishment, but who’s to say he couldn’t have won as a Republican in 1928?
Well, Scoop Jackson would have won the General election, but he did run and lost the Primaries.
But I cant think of anyone who didnt even dip their toe in, and would have won. Perhaps, Schwarzkopf? Better than GWB anyway.
Same here.
I guess Harold Stassen is not on this list. 
Paul Wellstone, maybe.
I don’t think Lindbergh was super political until the late 1930s, early 1940s. Also, I think the political machine would have convinced Lindbergh to run later - maybe start off as Hoover’s VP in '28.
Lindbergh was 26 in 1928. He wasn’t eligible to run for President until the 1940 election.