Ted Kennedy in 72?

As I understand it, Ted Kennedy was the presumptive favorite of the Democrats to go against Nixon in '72, that is until the chappaquiddick incident tainted him in the eyes of the electorate. Say nothing happens that night, there is no car into a lake, there is no problem. Can Kennedy beat Nixon? If so can he get re-elected in 76 and then does that butterfly away Reagan in 80?
 
Even without Chappaquiddick I think Kennedy would have decided against challenging Nixon and waited until 1976. Unless of course Nixon makes a series of blunders so his first term is more like Carter's IOTL.
 
Would we expect Watergate x10 if EMK is the nominee? If Nixon was that paranoid about McGovern, what would he say to the third Kennedy who now stood between him and everything he wanted?
 
No, TMP '72 makes it quite clear that EMK thought he was insufficiently experienced for the job. Unless Nixon FUBARs big-time in his first term, he's winning easily no matter who the Dems nominate.

Meadow: Nixon already had tails on EMK almost from inauguration day, that's how he first learned of Chappaquiddick and various dalliances EMK had with certain celebrities. Yes, he was paranoid about anything Kennedy-related, though ironically, like LBJ, the Kennedy brother he enjoyed the best relations with was Ted.
 
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