If Nixon had chosen Goldwater as his running mate, how well would this ticket have fared?
Hmm, perhaps the GOP does better in the South (North and South Carolina, MAYBE Texas), and out West. The question is whether Goldwater gets the same treatment in this election that he historically got in 1964.
Of course, we'd have to know WHY Nixon chooses Goldwater. Perhaps William F. Knowland narrowly wins the California gubernatorial race in 1958, then proceeds to challenge Nixon in the 1960 primaries. He doesn't win, but comes close enough that he's in a position to pressure Nixon to pick a conservative running mate. Goldwater is picked.