Greatest landslide

[skybridge]

1. In 1936, when FDR was up for re-election, an unprecedented 60.8% of the PV answered FDR's call, "Do you want the New Deal or not?" giving him 523 EVs from all but two states, a record 98.49%. (At this time the US consisted of 48 states.)

2. Following president Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Johnson rides a record 61.05% of the PV wave of sympathy to the White House. He carries all but 6 six states against an opponent who many consider too right-wing at the time, giving him him 486 EVs--90.33% of the college.

3. With a divided opposition, Nixon coasts to victory with the largest PV difference in history (17,995,488 votes)--60.67% of the PV. He is the the first carry 49 states (minus D.C.) giving him 520 EVs, 96.65% of the college.

4. The endlessly popular Reagan falls just .18% short (in MN) of winning all 50 states (minus D.C.) receiving a record 525 EVs--or 97.58%--from 58.77% of the voting population.

[skybridge]

One of those happened because of a terrible opponent. The other one happened because of Kennedy sympathy and a terrible opponent.

Reagan's the only one to almost sweep the states.

I did bring all these points up, though Nixon was only a state short (and D.C. too) as well.

I considered 1920 and one of Eisenhower's years. However, they're just not quite up there with these other four. Perhaps someone can make a good case for 1920? Personally, it amazes me how popular Harding must have been at some point.

[skybridge]

Yes, but Nixon lost by several points in Massachusetts. Reagan lost Minnesota by less than a fifth of a percentage point.

I mentioned that!

Harding won because of widespread distaste for Wilson.

Wilson wasn't running.

[skybridge]

Of the four I listed Johnson did best in the popular vote but worst in the college. FDR did second best in the popular vote and best in the college. Nixon is tied third. Reagan did worst in the popular vote but second best in the college. Thus, I would conclude FDR to be the winner.

So would someone explain why so many of you are voting for Reagan? (Note, all these figures are percentage wise.)

[skybridge]

Who won more countines, Nixon or Reagan?

[skybridge]

Of course, all that info is on the Atlas already...
Nixon won 2980 counties, Reagan 2781.

2004 Bush 2530, Kerry 583
2000 Bush 2439, Gore 674
1996 Dole 1587, Clinton 1526
1992 Bush 1582, Clinton 1519, Perot 15
1988 Bush 2295, Dukakis 820
1984 Reagan 2781, Mondale 334
1980 Reagan 2213, Carter 900
1976 Carter 1711, Ford 1403 (yes, that's right.)
1972 Nixon 2980, McGovern 131
1968 Nixon 1849, Humphrey 684, Wallace 578
1964 Johnson 2275, Goldwater 826, unpledged 6 [Ala Democrat. Should for practical purposes be included with Johnson tally]
1960 Nixon 1848, Kennedy 1186, unpledged 71 [Ala Dem counties apparently included in Kennedy total. Ala Dem slate was only partly pledged to Kennedy, partly unpledged]

Thanks! I really had no idea the site offered this service. Is part of the reason the Republicans win so many counties that the bread-basket states have so many whereas the coastal states have so few?

[skybridge]

Say, who was Reagan's Karl Rove?

[skybridge]

Say, who was Reagan's Karl Rove?

What do you mean?

Who was to Ronald Reagan what Karl Rove is to George W. Bush? Basically, who was his campaign strategist.

[skybridge]

I'm going to use the following scheme: I induce a 10% shift to the loser in every state in each landslide, to weed out the landslides with a deceptively large number of states won.  Basically, this will show whether an election was truly a monumental landslide or actually a very close election in which nearly every state just barely went to the victor.

1936:



Roosevelt 284 (50.80% PV)
Landon 247 (46.55% PV)

1964:



Johnson 301 (51.05% PV)
Goldwater 237 (38.47% PV)

1972:



Nixon 301 (50.67% PV)
McGovern 237 (47.52% PV)

1984:



Mondale 278 (50.56% PV)
Reagan 260 (48.77% PV)

So, according to this scheme, 1964 and 1972 are tied (!) for first in the EV, with Johnson barely getting a higher percentage of the PV, making him the overall winner.  In third is 1936, and in fourth is 1984, the only election in which a 10% shift made the victor into the loser.  So, to summarize:

1. 1964
2. 1972
3. 1936
4. 1984

Yes, Reagan lovers, I'm sorry to say that your favorite president wasn't the one who had the greatest landslide in US history.

I think 1936 looks the best on your maps.

[skybridge]

And to the argument that Reagan came closest to winning all 50 states--Nixon won more counties than Reagan, so doesn't that bring him nearer to winning the entire country over?

[skybridge]

Nixon and Reagan are tied for the most states. Both won 49.

DC is a city. Counting it as a state isn't a very good idea, because the demographics are completely different.

Reagan came closest to winning every state, as has been said before. That's the sole criteria by which it can be judged the greatest landslide.

FDR beat him in the EC percentage wise though.