1960: Johnson vs. Goldwater

[President Johnson]

Barry Goldwater defeats Richard Nixon for the Republican nomination in 1960. To balance his ticket ideological und geographical he picks Nelson Rockefeller as his Running Mate.

Meanwhile, Lyndon Johnson is the Democratic nominee. He selects John F. Kennedy as his vice-presidential candidate.

What happens on November 8, 1960? Discuss the scenario with maps.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

It would have been very difficult for Goldwater to win the nomination in 1960, the conservative movement not being nearly as strong politically as it would be 4 years later, and Nixon himself not being from the liberal wing.   But say he does, I don't think Rockefeller is willing to play second fiddle to someone he disagrees with so strongly when he can instead set his own agenda as leader of his faction and a powerful Governor.  If Goldwater needs a Northeast moderate, Prescott Bush is more likely.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

While the Johnson-Kennedy ticket is perceived as hailing from the more conservative wing of the party, Goldwater provides a strong contrast when it comes to the New Deal legacy.  The contrast when it comes to civil rights is less clear: the record of Goldwater and Bush are more pro-Civil Rights than their Democratic counterparts, but Johnson has expressed a broader willingness for federal action than has Goldwater. To provide a more liberal alternative, Senator Wayne Morse runs on an independent ticket with Leo Isacson, formerly an American Labor Party Congressman from the the Bronx.

Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX)/ Senator John F. Kennedy (D-MA)  448 51.9%
Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)/ Senator Prescott Bush (R-CT)  89  42.2%
Senator Wayne Morse (I-OR)/ Fmr. Rep. Leo Isacson (I-NY)  5.5%
Unpledged Electors .2%

[Mr. Smith]

I have a feeling Johnson probably would've gone with Hubert Humphrey anyway as Kennedy does not quite have the experience Humphrey has,Humphrey would do more to appear pro-Civil Rights than Kennedy.

The map and other candidates would probably look the same as shua's,maybe switch Florida and the Dakotas with Louisiana and Connecticut

[MATTROSE94]

While the Johnson-Kennedy ticket is perceived as hailing from the more conservative wing of the party, Goldwater provides a strong contrast when it comes to the New Deal legacy.  The contrast when it comes to civil rights is less clear: the record of Goldwater and Bush are more pro-Civil Rights than their Democratic counterparts, but Johnson has expressed a broader willingness for federal action than has Goldwater. To provide a more liberal alternative, Senator Wayne Morse runs on an independent ticket with Leo Isacson, formerly an American Labor Party Congressman from the the Bronx.

Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX)/ Senator John F. Kennedy (D-MA)  448 51.9%
Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ)/ Senator Prescott Bush (R-CT)  89  42.2%
Senator Wayne Morse (I-OR)/ Fmr. Rep. Leo Isacson (I-NY)  5.5%
Unpledged Electors .2%

That seems about right, though I feel that Barry Goldwater would have an edge in Virginia and Tennessee. In addition, Lyndon Johnson possibly would have ended up carry Vermont, as Goldwater's more extreme conservatism would not have played too well there (then again, his choice of Prescott Bush as his running-mate might have quelled fears about his conservatism).

[dougie77]

why does South Carolina vote Republican though?Do you remember that GOP was seen as Party of Lincoln and physically impossible for GOP to win SC until 1964?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

why does South Carolina vote Republican though?Do you remember that GOP was seen as Party of Lincoln and physically impossible for GOP to win SC until 1964?

Ike in 52 and Nixon in 60 both got about 49% of the vote. It's very possible to see a GOP win here, though perhaps on second thought LBJ might be more likely to take it even against a Republican that is a relatively good fit for the state.