Since my Jackson timeline didnt seem to catch many eyes, im starting this one, ive searched this board for 1968 election scenarios, but most either arent answered or only hace 2 or three posts.
Anyway, Here it goes:
Part 1: Election 1968
American public opinion is like an ocean, it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.
-Hubert H. Humphrey
The Democratic Coalition was at a disaster area. Liberals were disgusted and threatened to sit out because of the Vietnam War. Negroes were upset over LBJ’s handling of violence in ghettos, and threatened to sit out. The South was lost, and untold thousands of blue-collar workers were deserting to the charismatic George Wallace camp. The 1968 Chicago Convention was a disaster, and hope seemed to be lost in Hubert Humphrey’s campaign. Nixon was outspending Humphrey, and every possible outcome seemed to be tilting in the GOP’s favor.
Richard Nixon used a new campaign tactic – the southern strategy. Nixon’s newly found positions on “states rights”, “law and order”, “school choice” and tactical disapproving attitude of busing was aimed at targeting thousands of white southerners, and blue collar workers to make a new GOP base. George Wallace though- was an upset that took countless votes from Nixon.However, Vice-President Humphrey criticized the "law and order" issue, claiming that it was a subtle appeal to white racial prejudice. Nonetheless, Nixon was still ahead of the wounded Hubert Humphrey.
Then, on October 29th, news coverage reported that Anna Chennault- a Nixon agent had told South Vietnamese officials to purposely hold off the peace meetings that President Johnson was trying to start up. Hubert Humphrey immediately attacked Nixon:
“I am absolutely disgusted that anyone would put thousands of America’s boys at risk just to win a Political Campaign.” – Hubert Humphrey, 30th October, 1968.
This late October Surprise proved devastating for the Nixon Campaign, and combined with Humphrey regaining the allegiance of Labor Unions, 1968 was shaping up to be one of the closest in American History.
On Election Day, Nixon and Humphrey were neck and neck. Humphrey swept the Northeast, except for two narrow Nixon victories in Vermont and New Hampshire. Humphrey also managed to keep the Democratic hold on the Rust belt, where Humphrey did well with Unions, despite the meddling of Wallace. In the South, Richard Nixon swept the Upper South, and the Carolinas. George Wallace swept the Deep South, and Hubert Humphrey took Texas, a still moderately democratic state. Nixon swept the west, with Humphrey snagging Washington state.
In the end, Humphrey managed a slim victory over Nixon in the popular, and electoral vote. Polls were shown in the closest states (New Jersey, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio) that many last minute voters chose Humphrey over the anger over the Chennault- Vietnam scandal.
Hubert Humphrey/ Edmund Muskie 272 43.6% (Democratic)
Richard Nixon/ Spiro Agnew 213 43.5% (Republican)
George Wallace/ Curtis Le May 53 13.9% (American Independent)
Questions, Comments, Advice?
Anyway, Here it goes:
Part 1: Election 1968
American public opinion is like an ocean, it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.
-Hubert H. Humphrey
The Democratic Coalition was at a disaster area. Liberals were disgusted and threatened to sit out because of the Vietnam War. Negroes were upset over LBJ’s handling of violence in ghettos, and threatened to sit out. The South was lost, and untold thousands of blue-collar workers were deserting to the charismatic George Wallace camp. The 1968 Chicago Convention was a disaster, and hope seemed to be lost in Hubert Humphrey’s campaign. Nixon was outspending Humphrey, and every possible outcome seemed to be tilting in the GOP’s favor.
Richard Nixon used a new campaign tactic – the southern strategy. Nixon’s newly found positions on “states rights”, “law and order”, “school choice” and tactical disapproving attitude of busing was aimed at targeting thousands of white southerners, and blue collar workers to make a new GOP base. George Wallace though- was an upset that took countless votes from Nixon.However, Vice-President Humphrey criticized the "law and order" issue, claiming that it was a subtle appeal to white racial prejudice. Nonetheless, Nixon was still ahead of the wounded Hubert Humphrey.
Then, on October 29th, news coverage reported that Anna Chennault- a Nixon agent had told South Vietnamese officials to purposely hold off the peace meetings that President Johnson was trying to start up. Hubert Humphrey immediately attacked Nixon:
“I am absolutely disgusted that anyone would put thousands of America’s boys at risk just to win a Political Campaign.” – Hubert Humphrey, 30th October, 1968.
This late October Surprise proved devastating for the Nixon Campaign, and combined with Humphrey regaining the allegiance of Labor Unions, 1968 was shaping up to be one of the closest in American History.
On Election Day, Nixon and Humphrey were neck and neck. Humphrey swept the Northeast, except for two narrow Nixon victories in Vermont and New Hampshire. Humphrey also managed to keep the Democratic hold on the Rust belt, where Humphrey did well with Unions, despite the meddling of Wallace. In the South, Richard Nixon swept the Upper South, and the Carolinas. George Wallace swept the Deep South, and Hubert Humphrey took Texas, a still moderately democratic state. Nixon swept the west, with Humphrey snagging Washington state.
In the end, Humphrey managed a slim victory over Nixon in the popular, and electoral vote. Polls were shown in the closest states (New Jersey, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio) that many last minute voters chose Humphrey over the anger over the Chennault- Vietnam scandal.
Hubert Humphrey/ Edmund Muskie 272 43.6% (Democratic)
Richard Nixon/ Spiro Agnew 213 43.5% (Republican)
George Wallace/ Curtis Le May 53 13.9% (American Independent)
Questions, Comments, Advice?
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