alternatehistory.com

In September 1968, Wallace was getting 20% in the polls. In after October, after he named Curtis Lemay as his choice for Vice President he dropped to 15%. In the election he earned 13.5 5. What if one of the Southern Congressman or Senators he asked had said yes?. If you increase Wallace's percentage by a third he would have won Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. The Electoral College would have been Nixon 255 Humphrey 191 and Wallace 92. Nobody would have won. The election would have gone to the House. Wallace said in that case, he would have made a deal. His conditions would have been agreeing not enforce federal Civil Rights laws. I am thinking Nixon makes the deal. He would have started his presidency under a cloud. Particularly because he would have lost the popular votes. I am thinking Nixon 38% Humphrey 40% and Wallace 20%. I think after pressure from Congress and the public, Nixon goes back on his promise by 1970. This helps Humphrey as he tries for the 1972 Democratic nomination. Even if McGovern is the nominees, there so much anger at Nixon, he does better. I'll say Nixon 58% McGovern 40%. In addition to Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, McGovern wins Rhode Island, Minnesota and South Dakota.
Top