1960 - Nixon stronger on Civil Rights, JFK picks Smathers as VP

[The Last Northerner]

JFK does not pick LBJ as the VP nomine but chooses Florida Senator George Smathers. JFK had a good relationship with Smathers but was weaker on the issue of Civil Rights when compared to LBJ.

On the GOP side, Nixon acts more decisvely on the issue of Civil Rights and makes the phone call to Martin Luther King Jr. and his family while JFK does not (or acts too slowly). Nixon helps secure MLK's release and gets his father's endorsement instead.

I assume this helps Nixon with Black Americans and help him a few Northern states but hurt him in Florida and the rest of the South? Do Dixiecrats bolt here?

[White Trash]

Richard Nixon/Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. 280 EVs
John Kennedy/George Smathers 257 EVs

It is very, very close. Kennedy does better in the South and keeps the Byrd supporters in line. Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida flip to Kennedy. Nixon does better in the Industrial North with the help of settler from the Great Migration.

[Kingpoleon]

331: Nixon/Rockefeller(54.3%)
206: Kennedy/Smathers(45.6%)

[wjx987]

Well, the one given is that JFK would carry Florida easily.