Challenge: POTUS George Wallace (D-AL)

I imagine the liberal wing of the party fleeing into the night might hurt his chances a bit. :D

I remember Hunter Thompson, the world's most credible journalist, speculating about some kind of satanic Wallace/Humphrey ticket in Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, although I don't think Wallace could beat Nixon that year.
 
Did this once, by turning the 1960s into a nightmare...

1972 was a contest between Wallace/Jackson vs incumbent President Goldwater and Independent Candidate Gene McCarthy.

Wallace won with a 41% of the popular vote...
Ah, the 60's and 70's are such a fun time for politics; messy and hectic as hell. Any other period is generally somewhat settled and either a solid party block for Presidential dominance or a tug of war between parties going back. But in the 1960's and 1970's, anything could happen.
 
No one could beat Nixon that year, unless Christ runs as a Democrat or Zombie FDR returns, and Nixon probably beats Zombie FDR. :D

Here's a Wallace/Humphrey v. Nixon/Agnew map.

genusmap.php


(R) Richard M. Nixon/ Spiro T. Agnew: 354 EV, 56.4%
(D) George C. Wallace/ Hubert H. Humphrey: 184 EV, 43.5%

Incumbent President: Richard Nixon (R)
 
No one could beat Nixon that year, unless Christ runs as a Democrat or Zombie FDR returns, and Nixon probably beats Zombie FDR. :D

I know, the, er, speedy and shocking reversal in Nixon's fortunes soon after are almost enough to make you feel sorry for the old bastard. :D:p
 
I was reading that Nixon actually wrote hagiographical press articles about himself when feeling depressed.

Oh Jesus, I wouldn't be surprised.

Ever see Oliver Stone's Nixon? It's surprisingly sympathetic. Anyway, it's got a good line which basically sums up Nixon's, uh, bitterness:


"Goes to Harvard, his father hands him everything on a silver platter. All my life they've been sticking it to me. Not the right clothes, not the right schools, not the right family. And then he steals from me. He says I have no class, and they love him for it."
 
Who are "they"? The Kennedys? Nixon was offered scholarships to Harvard and Yale, but financial circumstances dictated otherwise. Nixon already ran against someone with a fairly long hairstyle.
 
No one could beat Nixon that year, unless Christ runs as a Democrat or Zombie FDR returns, and Nixon probably beats Zombie FDR. :D

Here's a Wallace/Humphrey v. Nixon/Agnew map.

genusmap.php


(R) Richard M. Nixon/ Spiro T. Agnew: 354 EV, 56.4%
(D) George C. Wallace/ Hubert H. Humphrey: 184 EV, 43.5%

Incumbent President: Richard Nixon (R)

Admittedly I don't know alot about Hubert H. Humphrey, but would he really run with George Wallace, or vice-versa?
 
Patriot: absolutely not, Hubert wouldn't run with Wallace. None of the '68 contenders would run with each other, for different reasons.

Mav: Maybe not Sam Yorty (though the closest to a Northern Wallace IMO), because he endorsed Nixon in 1960 and therefore would be as toxic to the Dems as Joe Lieberman was in '08.

Hubert Humphrey was one of the few people of whom Dick Nixon, Lyndon Johnson and Bobby Kennedy had the same opinion: nice and friendly to them personally, but no guts and lacking a pair.
 
Patriot: absolutely not, Hubert wouldn't run with Wallace. None of the '68 contenders would run with each other, for different reasons.

Mav: Maybe not Sam Yorty (though the closest to a Northern Wallace IMO), because he endorsed Nixon in 1960 and therefore would be as toxic to the Dems as Joe Lieberman was in '08.

That's what I figured. I didn't remember him being anything like a Conservative Democrat.
 
Patriot, for further ideological reference.

Gene McCarthy= Paul Wellstone (Liberal Dem)
Hubert Humphrey= Harry Truman (New Dealer/Progressive)
Robert Kennedy= Bill Clinton (New Democrat)
 
It's also worth noting that things like de-segregating the army put Truman firmly on the liberal wing of the party.
 
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