Could anyone have beaten Johnson in '64?

[MarkWarner08]

I think he was virtually invincible that year. The nation was still in shock over Kennedy's death and Johnson had been highly effective on the domestic front.

Nelson Rockefeller and Dick Nixon would have lost. Are the any other candidates who could've beaten Johnson?

[Dr. Cynic]

Well, let's see... Rockefeller, Scranton, Nixon, and Goldwater would all lose. Reagan could have won, but wasn't a national figurehead of the party. I doubt Johnson could lose in 1964... He was truly blessed to be VP of the popular Kennedy, and was even luckier that JFK was assasinated.

[Michael Z]

Reagan? He might have been liked by millions, but politically he was still a complete lightweight. Plus his views were similar to Goldwater's, which would have deemed him virtually unelectable. Take his political inexperience plus his (at the time) non-mainstream views and you're looking at a surefire defeat, though his charisma and oratory skills would mean we're not quite looking at a defeat of Goldwater-sized proportions.

[dazzleman]

No, I don't think anybody could have beaten Johnson in 1964.  He came into office on a tidal wave of goodwill after the Kennedy assassination, and it was way too soon afterward for anybody to run against him successfully.

[Nym90]

No way. Kennedy would've already been pretty much unbeatable, and then when you add in the sympathy factor after his assasination, the election was over before it began.

As for the mention of Reagan, he hadn't even been elected Governor of California yet (that wasn't until 1966) so there's no way he could've been elected President in 1964.

[Dr. Cynic]

As I had mentioned... He wasn't a national figure yet...

[Nym90]

As I had mentioned... He wasn't a national figure yet...

Right, but you did say he could have won.

I guess you meant that the Reagan of later years, had he been transported back in time to 1964, could've won (although even that I'd disagree with, Reagan circa 1980 or 1984 still would've lost to Johnson, though it would have been a lot closer than it was in real life).

[kashifsakhan]

Well, let's see... Rockefeller, Scranton, Nixon, and Goldwater would all lose.

If Nixon, Scranton, Goldwater and Rockefeller couldnt beat him, i dont see anyone in the Republican party (or any other party for that matter) being able to beat Johnson in 64.

[MaC]

as much as I hate to say it, I'm almost glad Goldwater lost.  Goldwater has a mysitque about him with people thinking 'that guy would've been a great president', meanwhile Johnson goes down as the guy who lost the Vietnam war.

[WalterMitty]

no republican could ahve beaten him.

there is a small chance bobby kennedy could have beaten him for the nomination.

[Reignman]

Nope. Rockefeller would've done a hell of a lot better than Goldwater tho.

[Max]

no republican could ahve beaten him.

there is a small chance bobby kennedy could have beaten him for the nomination.

I was thinking the same.

Would Bobby have had a chance as an Independent? Running against LBJ and Goldwater?

[Clay]

Are the any other candidates who could've beaten Johnson?

No.

[adam]

Rockefellar would have done far better because, unlike Goldwater, he would use negative campaign tactics. I don't think he could have won though, 1964 was a true shame...a waste of a good man (Goldwater that is).

[Michael Z]

Rockefellar would have done far better because, unlike Goldwater, he would use negative campaign tactics. I don't think he could have won though, 1964 was a true shame...a waste of a good man (Goldwater that is).

Goldwater was a nutter. I never understood why people in this forum revere him so much.

[True Democrat]

FDR rises from the grave, or Eisenhower is allowed to run again.