1968: Johnson/Kennedy versus Nixon/Reagan (no third-party)

[Sir Mohamed]

The bullets aimed at RFK miss their target that one day in LA and he continues his campaign. The Democratic National Convention then is deadlocked between Humphrey, Kennedy and McCarthy. The party then nominates the incumbent president again. After Humphrey steps aside from the VP slot, both Johnson and RFK pull themselves together and run on a ticket despite their dislike for each other. Johnson hopes that Bobby helps in the general election and Bobby accepts the second spot because he thinks that secures him the nomination in 1972.

After securing the GOP nomination, Richard Nixon offers the VP slot to Spiro Agnew and Gerald Ford first, but both decline. A pro-Reagan effort on the convention floor leads Nixon to accept the CA governor reluctantly as his running mate. (Nixon in 1968 was running with NY as his homestate anyway, so that doesn't create any problems).

George Wallace drops out in September 1968, what leaves Johnson and Nixon as sole candidates. Who wins? I think Reagan helps Nixon in the South. Probably only the president's native TX would go Democratic. However, Reagan would probably sink Nixon in the North (and Kennedy helps Johnson there).

[President Johnson]

Nixon's southern strategy prevails and Reagan further boosts him in the South. He wins the entire South except Texas. Johnson narrowly holds on North Carolina. In the end, the Johnson/Kennedy ticket wins by a comfortable margin. But I think a Dixiecrat ticket had been inevitable in 1968. RFK wins the nomination in 1972, but loses the general election against Nelson Rockefeller who defeated Reagan for the Republican nomination.

President Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX)/Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY): 317 EV. (51.23%)
Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon (R-NY)/Governor Ronald W. Reagan (R-CA): 221 EV. (47.06%)