I've been thinking for a while about how Nixon's term would go without Watergate, and I came up with an interesting situation that I thought I'd throw out here. Is there a possibility that the 1976 election could be Lloyd Bentsen vs. George H. W. Bush vs. John Connally? I'm thinking Nixon picks Bush Sr. as his VP replacement after Agnew resigns, but still wants Connally to run (Connally is passed over because of unlikely Senate confirmation). In 1976 amid a still sluggish economy, Bentsen wins the nomination after using his campaign funding to launch a national campaign instead of concentrating on Texas. Nixon among other people encourage Connally to run as an independent, arguing that Connally would be able to attract a centrist vote and draw voters from both parties. How would this election play out?
1976 Presidential Election, a Battle of Three Texans?
- Thread starter wilcoxchar
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Paul V McNutt
Banned
I agree with Plumber, Democrats in Congress objected to the things Conally did running Democrats for Nixon. if Nixon had run a clean campaign Connally would have been veep. I am not ready to say Connally would have been the nominee. He would have had a strong opponent in Ronald Reagan. Yes Connally would have had Nixon's support but how votes in the primaries would that have won him.
The thing about Connally getting the nomination is that he still has to go through Senate confirmation, and since Connally switched from the Democrats to the Republicans earlier in 1973 I would think most Dems would view him as a traitor to the party and would refuse to see him become VP.
Paul V McNutt
Banned
Reagan in 1976 is the leader of the conservative wing of the Republican Party. He had a much bigger following than Bradley ever did.