In 1960, there were 14 unpledged electors, and one faithless elector, from the South who, in OTL, voted for Harry F. Byrd as a protest vote against desegregation. In OTL, it did not matter who they voted for, as Kennedy had enough pledged electors to win the electoral college. However, all it takes is a 0.6% shift in the popular vote, nationwide, to give Richard Nixon Hawaii, Illinois, and Missouri. This shift makes the electoral vote 263 for Nixon vs. 260 for Kennedy, with 14 electors unpledged to either candidate. If it comes down to this, which candidate will be able to convince the faithless electors to come to their side? Nixon, the man of the OTL Southern Strategy, could do so, but he had ran a less-southern campaign OTL, and Henry Cabot Lodge had promised that there would be a black cabinet member. The Deep South is still mostly Democrat, so that could overcome Catholic, pro-civil rights Kennedy. Johnson could probably swing some southerners as well. If either candidate has to make a deal, it could result in some Deep South segregationist joining the cabinet, and a Civil Rights delay.
What do you think would happen?