1964 Election (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

While Barry Goldwater would cruise to victory in the 1964 American Party primary, besting all three of his major opponents by a wide margin, the Populist Primary ended not in the orderly coronation of a nominee but a three-way deadlock between Vice President Lyndon Johnson of Texas, former Secretary of State Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, and Governor Matthew Welsh of Indiana. When the National People's Convention convened in Philadelphia, neither of these three candidates held a majority of delegates. After two tense days of political haggling, what would be termed the most momentous compromise in modern political history was reached: all three candidates dropped out of the race, and the convention voted to nominated Chief Justice A. Phillip Randolph as the party's candidate for president in 1964.

As the general election campaign begins, it has become clear that the two nominees could not be more different. Randolph, the first African-American ever nominated for president by a major party, has served on the Supreme Court since 1925, when then-President Upton Sinclair chose him to replace William Jennings Bryan as the nation's chief judicial officer. A strong supporter of the anti-poverty movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Randolph has called for vigorous government action to combat poverty, including a minimum wage hike and a massive expansion of most welfare programs. Goldwater, by contrast, is demanding a dramatic reduction in the size and scope of the federal government. If elected, he has promised to dismantle much of the welfare state, including Social Security and the National Health Service. Goldwater has also called for more aggressive opposition to the U.S.S.R. and international communism in general, in contrast to Randolph's anti-war tendencies. In order to appeal to moderate voters, Goldwater has selected Governor Margaret Chase Smith of Maine as his running mate, who if elected will become the first female vice president since Eleanor Roosevelt.

Go!

[Mr. Smith]

Randolph.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Randolph.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Make HISTORY with Randolph!

[PJ]

I actually like Randolph more than any of the primary candidates, so an enthusiastic populist vote from me.

[Zioneer]

Randolph actually sounds really cool and I like his policies.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Make HISTORY with Randolph!

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

I actually like Randolph more than any of the primary candidates, so an enthusiastic populist vote from me.

[CapoteMonster]

Goldwater so there's no racism powered Republican triumph in 1968.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Goldwater so there's no racism powered Republican triumph in 1968.

You do realize that we'll be deciding 1968's outcome too?

[Sumner 1868]

Goldwater so there's no racism powered Republican triumph in 1968.

Because it would happen in 1964 instead?

[Zioneer]

Hey Goldwater guys, you already got rid of LBJ, there's no need to be voting in droves for Goldwater anymore.

[Goldwater]

Hey Goldwater guys, you already got rid of LBJ, there's no need to be voting in droves for Goldwater anymore.

Don't tell me what to do!

[tmthforu94]

A historic election! Goldwater/Smith in '64!!!

[Potus]

American.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I vote AuH2O.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Goldwater so there's no racism powered Republican triumph in 1968.

Blacks achieved full civil rights ITTL in the 1850s, so I doubt this will happen regardless.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Goldwater/Smith, naturally.

[Lumine]

I believe this might be the highest turnout in decades, the only one that comes close seems to be 1952 with 45 voters.

[NHI]

Barry!

[VPH]

And thus this timeline goes the Goldwater route *shakes head*. I would love to see a fracture in the American party!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Wow...

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

It'd be cool if Goldwater being elected let to nuclear war.

[Zioneer]

So has the voted closed? Because if it has.... hahahahaha.

[Boston Bread]

Just a suggestion, but I'd like to see shades (>40%, >50% etc) in future electoral maps. It would be interesting to know where the strongholds and swing states are.

Oh, and congrats on the turnout!