Why was Mississippi so close in 1976?

[tpfkaw]

Carter only beat Ford there by 1.88% (with under 50%).  Why didn't they vote for Deep South Democrat Jimmy Carter by a more substantial margin?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I hadn't noticed that it was so close. It is a bit surprising, but MS may have been much more disillusioned with the Democrats already by this time. They gave the largest percentage of popular votes to the GOP of any state both in 64 and 72, and hadn't gone to the Democrat in the electoral college since 56.

[Fuzzybigfoot]

I hadn't noticed that it was so close. It is a bit surprising, but MS may have been much more disillusioned with the Democrats already by this time. They gave the largest percentage of popular votes to the GOP of any state both in 64 and 72, and hadn't gone to the Democrat in the electoral college since 56.

This mostly, plus also I think the Ford Campaign really targeted this state, along with Texas, Oklahoma, and maybe Louisiana.  I remember watching an ad by Senator Thurmond saying that Ford was more in touch with the South than Carter, which I'm guessing they ran in those particular states.

[RichmondFalls]

All of the reasons above, as well as the fact that the tradition of black nonparticipation seemed to linger on in Mississippi, the state most opposed to civil rights. Black turnout was actually higher in 1980 in this state, which is why Reagan didn't win by a bigger margin than he did.

[phk]

Strom's endorsement.

[tpfkaw]

Strom's endorsement.

Carter won by 13 points in SC . . .

[Liberalrocks]

It is strange that the other deep south states voted for the native son and yet this state was very narrow. Had Ford won Mississippi or Wisconsin along with Ohio he would have won.

I would have voted for Ford in 1976 had I been old enough.