Nixon won a larger share of the vote in 1972.
It's clearly 1972
While Minnesota was indeed closer then McGovern's Massachusetts win. Nixon beat McGovern in many larger cities that Mondale won making statewide loss margins closer for 1984 then 1972. (Look at NY and PA for 1984 Reagan won them in the single digits, McGovern was blown out in both). Also McGovern was slaughtered worse then Mondale in the South. Nixon won well over 60% of the national popular vote while Reagan's popular vote total came in a few points lower at around 58%.
Mondale carried over 48 % of the vote in Massachusetts and Rhode Island where as outside of Massachusetts McGovern did not come as close to a win. So McGovern really didnt come close to winning any other state besides Massachusetts.
