1976 Democratic Nomination
In big surprises
Carter beat Udall in Iowa.
In New Hampshire, Udall narrowly won over Carter.
With Romney running unopposed in the Republican primary in
Massachusetts, the whole focus was on the Democratic primary which saw an upset
victory for George Wallace, thanks in part to support from crossover Republicans who would soon become known as "Wallace Republicans".
In Florida, Wallace beat Carter.
Next in Illinois, Wallace beat Carter again, but only by a narrow margin.
Wallace would go on the win most of the following primaries, building a large delegate lead.
The success of Wallace caused California Governor Jerry Brown, Idaho Senator Frank Church to enter the primaries.
Senator Bobby Kennedy also entered the New York primarily as a favorite-son. Hubert Humphrey also began to court delegates for a the second and third ballot at the DNC.
Thanks in part to divided opposition, Wallace continued to edge closer to a first ballot majority.
DNC leaders and liberal activists however had a plan to stop Wallace at the convention.
Red-Wallace Yellow-Udall Brown-Brown Light Green-Kennedy Light Blue-Church Pink-Carter Dark Green-Humphrey Dark Red-Byrd
At the convention in NYC, a coalition of party leaders and liberal activists on
the credentials committee throw out delegations for Wallace from Missouri and Delaware thereby denying him the majority on the first round. Wallace's supporters and many rule-of-law type Democrats (including Humphrey) opposed the credentials committee report. It was only after a roll call vote that the committee report passed by a margin of less than 10 votes.
The report's passage ensured Wallace's defeat and he and his supporters walked out that night.
The next day, Wallace announced he was withdraw from "a rigged system" and would be running "as a conservative, populist, independent in the general election." The American
After some early ballots,
the race came down to Humphrey vs. Kennedy. with Humphrey narrowly winning.
Humphrey than offered the VP spot to Kennedy, but Kennedy declined and
Humphrey picked Carter as VP.
The 1976 Democratic Ticket
1976 American Independent Party Nomination
The AIP nominated for George Wallace for President and John Schmitz for Vice President.
Wallace's bid in 1976 was considered stronger than his run in 1968 since he was now supported by many more conservative Republicans who felt betrayed by Romney.
1976 Republican Nomination
In a big upset in
Iowa, Ashbrook won an astonishing 34% to Romney's 44%. The remaining 22% was cast for unpledged delegates.
In the month between Iowa and New Hampshire,
Ashbrook saw a large boost in support, and
Nixon, Goldwater, and Connally began to reconsider running against Romney.
Meanwhile, Illinois Congressman
Phil Crane and North Carolina Senator
Jesse Helms announced bids for president as favorite-sons. Helms also agreed to have his name placed on several other southern ballots. Romney pulled out of the Illinois primary and had Senator Chuck Percy run in his place.
Romney also pulled out of North Carolina leaving Helms unopposed. Ashbrook also dropped out of Massachusetts to focus on New Hampshire and Florida.
In
New Hampshire, Romney won 49% to 38% with 6% going to Nixon as write-in. Romney's win, while it stabilized him somewhat, exposed vulnerabilities in his reelection bid. Romney's failure to win a majority of the total votes cast in the Republican primary demonstrated the depth of resentment from the conservative base of the party.
In
Florida, Romney won over Ashbrook.
Next in Illinois, Phil Crane came within 1,000 votes of winning the primary and ended up winning more delegates than Percy. This upset gave a huge boost to the "Stop Romney" forces going into the North Carolina primary.
Romney and Wallace would go on the win most of the following primaries, building a large delegate lead.
Helms won several southern races and caucuses as well.
One big upset was Ashbrook winning the Texas primary.
Conservatives, meanwhile, had been very active in the delegate election process and were certain they had the votes to pass a conservative platform and
dump Rockefeller as VP.
Romney won the final major contest with his win in the California primary over Schmitz.
Blue-Romney Red-Ashbrook Green-Helms Yellow-Percy
At the convention in Kansas City, The conservative's passed a Reagan conservative platform over the objections of Romney and the moderates.
Romney won on the first ballot with 1369 votes to 416 for Ashbrook's, 348 for Helms, 55 for Crane, 50 for Percy, and 20 scattering.
Despite Wallace's third party bid gaining support from conservatives and threatening Romney's right flank, the President refused to accept a new VP. The conservatives nominated multiple candidates hoping to stop Rockefeller. After the first ballot Rockefeller was ahead, but more than 250 votes away from a majority. After the first ballot,
Romney appeared in person and declared he would renounce the nomination is Rockefeller were not nominated. After a long recess, and countless promises, bribes, and threats, Rockefeller won on the third ballot with just 2 votes to spare.
President Romney and Vice-President Rockefeller at the 1976 RNC.
After the convention, over 200 conservative delegates announced their support for Wallace.