TL: The South Shall Rise Again

May 5, 1976:

ASKEW WINS ALABAMA AND INDIANA PRIMARIES;
CARTER WINS HOME STATE CONTEST;
REAGAN WINS ALABAMA, GEORGIA, INDIANA;
UDALL, FORD WIN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Florida Governor Reuben Askew swept the Alabama Presidential Primary, but stayed out of Georgia's primary as a de facto courtesy to former Governor Jimmy Carter, who had suspended his national campaign but nonetheless wanted to lead his own delegation to the Democratic National Convention in New York.

In Indiana, Askew defeated Senator Henry Jackson of Washington, who treated Indiana as his last stand. And it turned out to be so, as the once well funded Jackson campaign was out of money by Indiana. Askew swept the rural areas of the state, especially in the southern-accented "butternut" counties, and won in the suburbs as well. It is expected that Senator Jackson will call an end to his campaign after losing 2-1 to Askew.

A late starting effort by Congressman Morris Udall won some university communities but that was not enough to win more than a third place finish. However, Udall did take home a consolation prize last night by winning the District of Columbia primary over Askew. The District is dominated by more liberal voters and many government employees, who are a more natural constituency for Udall over Askew.

With 99% of precincts counted, Askew leads with 55%, compared to 25% for Jackson and 15% for Udall ...
 
May 12, 1976:

UDALL WINS CONNECTICUT, CHURCH UPSETS ASKEW IN NEBRASKA

Arizona Congressman Morris Udall revived his campaign yesterday by a clear victory in the Connecticut Democratic Primary. Udall was already strong in New England by winning the New Hampshire and Massachusetts primaries, where his more liberal campaign resonated well with many voters. Udall led Florida Governor Reuben Askew by ten percentage points in late returns, winning a 52 to 42% victory ...

In Nebraska, the late candidacy of Idaho Senator Frank Church, campaigning as both a westerner and a rural leader, upset Governor Askew by one percentage point, 35 to 34%, with Udall a close third at 26%.

In the other contest yesterday, it was actually no contest, as Senator Robert Byrd dominated his native West Virginia as its favorite son ...
 
May 19, 1976:

ASKEW WINS MICHIGAN, UDALL WINS MARYLAND

Florida Governor Reuben Askew received a welcome victory in a big northern industrial state by winning Michigan over Congressman Morris Udall ... both candidates seem to have consolidated their respective party wings behind them. Askew was victorious with 52% to Udall's 43%.

It was another story in Maryland, however, where liberal suburbanites and government employees provided the margin for victory for the more liberal Udall, winning the state by 50% to 41% ...
 
May 26, 1976:

ON A BUSY PRIMARY DAY, DIVERSE RESULTS

ASKEW WINS ARKANSAS, KENTUCKY and TENNESSEE
UDALL WINS NEVADA;
CHURCH WINS IDAHO and OREGON

Proving that his late starting campaign still has some life in it, Idaho Senator Frank Church, running as a rural and western candidate, swept his home state as expected in yesterday's primaries, and won a notable victory in Oregon over Arizona Congressman Morris Udall. Florida Governor Reuben Askew, while the national frontrunner, was not really a factor in either state.

However, Askew maintained his dominance of the South and border regions by sweeping the Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee contests.

In the meantime, Udall managed to win the state of Nevada, owing in some part to the state's considerable Mormon population.
 
June 2, 1976:

CHURCH WINS MONTANA and SOUTH DAKOTA;
UDALL WINS RHODE ISLAND


Continuing the pattern established by the Democratic nomination race, Idaho Senator Frank Church continued to do well in western and rural states, winning the Montana and South Dakota contests.

In the meantime, the liberal favorite, Arizona Congressman Morris Udall maintained his dominance of New England, winning Rhode Island.

Florida Governor Reuben Askew did not win any of the contests yesterday, but did come in second in all three. This fits his pattern of running first or second in virtually every contest since the withdrawals of former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter and Washington Senator Henry Jackson ...
 
June 9, 1976:

CHURCH WINS CALIFORNIA;
ASKEW WINS OHIO AND NEW JERSEY;
UDALL SHUT OUT

Idaho Senator Frank Church won last night's marquee race by edging Florida Governor Reuben Askew and Arizona Congressman Morris Udall in California's Democratic contest. It is widely thought that the last minute endorsement of Church by California Governor Jerry Brown carried the day, narrowly.

However, Florida Governor Reuben Askew continued to accumulate delegates at an impressive clip in spite of his relatively weak showing in California, winning both Ohio and New Jersey.

On this final day of primaries, Congressman Morris Udall came away with no victories. He had put all of his remaining resources into California and came up short. As a result, he had nothing left to give in Ohio and New Jersey.
 
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