What If: Ted Kennedy had not driven off the bridge at Chappaquiddick?

I thought maybe Sen. Lloyd Bentson of Texas would be a possible Kennedy running mate--copying JFK's selection of LBJ in 1960. But in OTL, Carter actually beat Bentson in the Texas primary and Bentson dropped out of the presidential race. I think it unlikely that Kennedy would pick a Texan who couldn't even win the Texas Democatic primary.

Kennedy's weakness in the South made it likely he would consider some non-racist New South governors, such as Jimmy Carter. Gov. Reuben Askew of Florida was in his 2nd term and had been considered in OTL as a potential VP pick in 1972 and 1976. Sen. Dale Bumpers was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1970 and 1972, then won the Senate seat in 1974.

SC Senator Ernest Frtiz Hollings, a fmr governor of S.C., might be too conservative for Kennedy. He was not a New South governor, but a segregationist-era governor in the early 1960s. Kennedy was unlikely to win Indiana even with Bayh on the ticket.

I can't see Kennedy picking CA Gov. Jerry Brown, who was only 38 years-old and in his first term as governor.

Terry Sanford would've also been a possibility. He was a friend of JFK's and was one of the few southern governors of the time to support desegregated public school.
 
Terry Sanford would've also been a possibility. He was a friend of JFK's and was one of the few southern governors of the time to support desegregated public school.

I like Sanford, but he wasn't hugely popular in the South. I think Dale Bumpers is very likely, though he wouldn't be hugely experienced.
 
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