Republicans post-Gerald Ford's second term?

I think the problem is that Reagan was so larger than life he just sucked up any attention from other viable hard right conservative Republicans in the 70s. I think you could look at George W. Bush and the platform he ran on in 2000.

Going off that, Jack Kemp could be the next Republican face for '88 or '92 if we assume there's an H.W. equivalent after a Dem win in '80. He's the most likely in my opinion.

[/quote]I agree with the line of thought running there.
However, there is no guarantee that the Republican Party goes further right than it already was. It could easily centralise in a different 80s under a Democrat who could maybe be centralist rather than to the left: a post-Ford / post-Reagan Republican Party could easily be fighting for the centre ground hard too and not moving away.
[/quote]


My personal view is that Mondale takes it in ‘80 winning on a moderate platform handidly over Reagan who defeated VP Dole in the primaries. He governs similar to Bill Clinton fiscally speaking. Democrats had been moving to the center fiscally since the end of the 60s. Carter actually started the campaign of deregulation.

Lloyd Bentsen would be an excellent choice. He's from the electoral heavyweight of Texas, a protege of the legendary Sam Rayburn, and a centrist. 

Running in ‘80 seems like a no-brainer on paper, but would Ted want to run though with Chappaquddick still around his neck combined with his valuable Senate position and countless familial problems?

I doubt it.

I can see that Mondale wouldn’t have a cakewalk through the primaries with essentially a repeat of ‘76. But to me it would seem he has the best chance to unite the party.

You have it like this likely:

Walter Mondale: Moderate Liberal. Supported by the unions and northern liberals. A protege and close ally of the late liberal icon Hubert Humphrey
Henry Jackson: Courts more conservative and hawkish Democrats. Ultra pro-Israel, likely leads among Jewish Americans. Opposed to school busing. Despite support of the Civil Rights Movement, could win states in the South.
Jerry Brown: Very fringe. You can’t really describe him as liberal or conservative. Read about his OTL 1980 Campaign on his Wikipedia page.

In a ford wins 76 seneario Loyed Bentson would ahve a good chance of beating Reagan in 80. unlike teddy Kennedy he has no scandal. unlike jery Brown notont he fringe..remeber quayle debates he tells it like it is. by 1980 Republicans been in charge 12 years..

Even in 1980, Two freaking liberals on a Democratic ticket is not happening. Even in 2018, it's hard getting progressives to understand that combining a black man with a latino woman etc on a ticket isn't viable.