McGovern's become one of my favorite politicians over the last year or so (
Just look at my most recent thread!) despite me originally overlooking him during my entrance into politics. The truth is he was a fine candidate who got caught up in a perfect storm - running in the wrong election against the wrong men, giving his speech at the wrong time, picking the wrong running mate and the wrong talking points. He probably could have done better in any other election he could've ran in (sans 1984.)
McGovern could definitely have done better in 1972 and the idea he's un-electable seems to me, much of a myth based on his loss, but it's been said he could've won ten or so states if not for the Eagleton issues. That said, I'm not going to 'wank' about the guy - it's all but impossible for him to defeat Nixon unless you just completely shift the perfect storm away - or, if I recall, if Ted Kennedy became his running mate. I swear I read once McGovenr-Kennedy trounced Nixon-Agnew in polling.
But in my opinion, the least of George McGovern's problems on the campaign trail was George McGovern.