Could RFK won Texas in 1968?

[Robespierre's Jaw]

We know that in 1968 Texas went to Hubert Humphrey after strong support from President Lyndon B. Johnson and Governor John Connally. Suppose RFK isn't assassinated and thus won the nomination in 1968, would he have been able to win Texas? Discuss.

[WalterMitty]

first of all, i wouldnt assume that rfk would have gotten the nomination.

it  is possible he would have won texas, but not likely.  obviously lbj wouldnt have lifted a finger to help him.  im not sure about connally.  maybe connally had a bond with the kennedys since he was also shot in dallas in 63.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Yes, although Wallace would be a close second.

[agcatter]

No way.  HHH won barely over Nixon with huge help from LBJ.  That help would not have been there for RFK.  As far as Wallace being a close second, forget it.  The results were in 68 were:

HHH        41
Nixon      39
Wallace   19

Wallace would have been a distant third still.

[Хahar 🤔]

I doubt it. The Solid South was fast eroding, and RFK was too darn liberal.

[agcatter]

John Connally HATED Ralph Yarborough.  Both were the clear leaders of the two Texas Democratic factions that fought tooth and nail for control of the party for years.  In fact, it was Connally's open support of Lloyd Bentson in the Democratic senatorial primary two years later that helped Bentson upset Yarborough.

Trust me, RFK would never have carried Texas and I believe Nixon would have taken Texas by a solid margin.

[© tweed]

it is more likely that he would have finished third than it is that he would have won.  LBJ wouldn't have lifted a finger to help him.

[Nym90]

Nixon would've won it.

But RFK would've had a better chance of winning Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey and California than HHH.

And the idea that LBJ would privately endorse Nixon is absurd, LBJ hated Nixon. He may not have liked RFK, but he still would've supported him over Nixon.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I go with Nym here.

Kennedy probably would've lost Texas, but had a better shot at winning enough states to counter that loss.

[J. J.]

I think Connally is probably the key.  He was the Governor, with a strong tie to JFK, by being in the limo.  A defection to Nixon would have swung Texas to Nixon.

He was willing to serve a Treasury Secretary under Nixon., so it's not impossible.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I wonder if RFK could've considered Connally as VP?

Just a thought.

[Lincoln Republican]

In 1968, Nixon wins Texas and the Presidency over RFK.