I’ve wondered about this for a while. Would there be any way that Nixon would lose in 1968, but come back to win the 1972 election? Surely there must be some way.
I’ve wondered about this for a while. Would there be any way that Nixon would lose in 1968, but come back to win the 1972 election? Surely there must be some way.
You would either need some kind of crazy split between the electoral college and popular vote or have the election go the house and Wallace throw it to Humphrey (which enables Nixon to denounce the whole thing as illegitimate).
Let's say Wallace manages to secure Happy Chandler as VP. Wallace proceeds to win Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. But, Nixon manages to win Washington and Connecticut. The final score is 264 Nixon, 169 Humphrey, 107 Wallace.
Nixon is the clear leader in terms of popular vote and electoral vote but Humphrey takes the presidency after cutting a deal with Wallace. The Nation proceeds to go absolutely ape and Nixon rides the hysteria to the nomination and to victory two years later.
Easy. Reagan loses to HHH in 1968. Nixon runs in primaries again, wins the general election.
Not if he lost the primary to Reagan in 1968. If that happens, he's done politically.
The solution is Nixon decides not to run in '68, figuring it'll be a mess for whoever wins to come back in '72.Not if he lost the primary to Reagan in 1968. If that happens, he's done politically.
What if instead he’s forced to drop out for, I don’t know, health reasons? Then he comes back in 72 and is stronger than ever?
I’ve wondered about this for a while. Would there be any way that Nixon would lose in 1968, but come back to win the 1972 election? Surely there must be some way.