In 1952 Arizona Senator and Senate Majority Leader
Ernest McFarland lost to
Barry Goldwater in a very close election 6,725 votes out of roughly 260,000 cast (~2.6%). If a few percentage points had swung McFarland's way he could have won.
My question really is 3:
1.) How would this affect Barry Goldwater and his future followers? His idiosyncratic had ideas inspired both Reagan and Hillary Clinton to support him in 1964, Reagan got his start in politics by giving a speech for Goldwater. While their personal entries are butterflied away, they themselves are not. Will they find a way into politics? Will Goldwater try again in 56/58? Or will he not run and try his hand at getting his views out there?
2.) How would this affect McFarland, he was the Senate Majority Leader at the time, after his defeat he went to become Governor and the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. Obvious that is butterflied away, what will he do with a third term under his belt? Will he run in 1958? Or even President/Vice-President in 1960/64?
3.) How will the Senate be affected? With one more Senator on the Democrat's side the Senate is split 48-48, with Vice-President Nixon controlling the Tie-Breaker. However, the Republicans only held 47 seats, the 48th member was Independent Senator
Wayne Morse who was both pro-New Deal, and pro-Stevenson. Will he switch over to the Democratic Party earlier then OTL? Another matter is the Senator Democratic Leader, will McFarland still be Majority Leader? Or was Johnson going to find a way to become it anyways?