Vice President Hubert Humphrey almost selected Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma as his vice presidential nominee, however, Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine's age, governmental experience, and quiet temperament convinced Humphrey to select him instead. Muskie was surprised to have been nominated because Maine is not electorally rich (which probably contributed to their landslide defeat against Nixon-Agnew).
The Finalists for Humphrey's shortlist were:

  • Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine (OTL's Vice Presidential Nominee)
  • San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto of California
  • Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma
  • Governor Richard J. Hughes of New Jersey
  • Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Cyrus Vance of West Virginia
Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York both declined interest in being Vice President. Some distant options included: Former Governor Terry Stanford of North Carolina and Ambassador Sargent Shriver (OTL 1972's Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee). Who would have been a better running mate for Hubert Humphrey in 1968? (Doesn't necessarily have to be any of the candidates listed.)
 
If (and it's a big if) Humphrey could convince Rockefeller to join the ticket, he'd probably be the best, but otherwise I doubt any other running mate would have made a difference.
 
The problem with nominating a vice-presidential candidate based on the electoral votes of his/her state is that the "home state advantage" conferred by a *vice*-presidential candidate seems to be minimal, especially for large states. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pol-vice-president-qa-20160702-snap-htmlstory.html

There is a contrary study: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...s-actually-do-win-votes-in-their-home-states/ but even it acknowledges that the advantage is somewhat less in large states.
 
Vice President Hubert Humphrey almost selected Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma as his vice presidential nominee, however, Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine's age, governmental experience, and quiet temperament convinced Humphrey to select him instead. Muskie was surprised to have been nominated because Maine is not electorally rich (which probably contributed to their landslide defeat against Nixon-Agnew).

Landslide defeat?! 1968? 43.4%-42.7% is hardly a landslide, and even in the Electoral College there have been far more lopsided victories than 301-191.

And after all, Nixon too chose a running mate from a relatively small state--which the Nixon-Agnew ticket lost! (Whereas at least Humphrey-Muskie carried Maine.)
 
Landslide defeat?! 1968? 43.4%-42.7% is hardly a landslide, and even in the Electoral College there have been far more lopsided victories than 301-191.

And after all, Nixon too chose a running mate from a relatively small state--which the Nixon-Agnew ticket lost! (Whereas at least Humphrey-Muskie carried Maine.)
Yeah, it's hardly a landslide when you consider that a 1.5 swing from Nixon to Humphrey would've given him the election.
 
If (and it's a big if) Humphrey could convince Rockefeller to join the ticket, he'd probably be the best, but otherwise I doubt any other running mate would have made a difference.

"Former Massachusetts governor Endicott Peabody, a summer neighbor of Nelson Rockefeller's (and a staunch Democrat) tried to draft Rocky as VP on Humphrey's ticket in 1968, calling on Rocky to take part in a grand alliance of Humphrey, Kennedy, McCarthy, Rockefeller and Romney supporters to prevent the victory of 'a leadership outright opposed to your policies.' 'Humphrey himself called to make the case for a coalition government.' Richard Norton Smith, *On His Own Terms: A Life of Nelson Rockefeller*, p. 540...." See my post at https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...kefeller-ticket-in-1968.336723/#post-10025383
 
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