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Title: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Bo on March 04, 2010, 08:56:19 PM differently?
I would have distanced myself from LBJ's Vietnam policy sooner, attacked Nixon for being a reckless superhawk, and talked more about the good economy and large job creation over the last 8 years. If many undecided voters would have been reminded about the economy, a large number of them could have voted for Humphrey based on that issue. Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl on March 04, 2010, 08:57:09 PM Taken a strong stand against the war.
Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: State's Rights on March 04, 2010, 09:07:45 PM Hubert Humphrey would have been unable to label Nixon as a "reckless superhawk" (which isn't even a real word), because Richard Nixon had painted himself as the "Anti-War" candidate. Of course he wasn't, but he imaged himself out to appear so. In fact, Nixon's promise to the American people was that he would end the war in Vietnam (notice he didn't say how he would do so). I also don't see how reminding undecided voters (who were primarily White Democrats in the Rust Belt) of the good economy would do much good, as that was Humphrey's basic strategy to begin with.
Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Bo on March 04, 2010, 09:11:49 PM Hubert Humphrey would have been unable to label Nixon as a "reckless superhawk" (which isn't even a real word), because Richard Nixon had painted himself as the "Anti-War" candidate. Of course he wasn't, but he imaged himself out to appear so. In fact, Nixon's promise to the American people was that he would end the war in Vietnam (notice he didn't say how he would do so). I also don't see how reminding undecided voters (who were primarily White Democrats in the Rust Belt) of the good economy would do much good, as that was Humphrey's basic strategy to begin with. I don't think Humphrey talked much at all about the good economy. And while it might not have that large of an effect on rust-belt Whites, it might help out with middle-class and upper-class suburbanites. Humphrey only needed a nationwide swing of about 1-2% to win the election (or send it to the House, where he would also win). Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Bo on March 04, 2010, 09:12:11 PM Hubert Humphrey would have been unable to label Nixon as a "reckless superhawk" (which isn't even a real word), because Richard Nixon had painted himself as the "Anti-War" candidate. Of course he wasn't, but he imaged himself out to appear so. In fact, Nixon's promise to the American people was that he would end the war in Vietnam (notice he didn't say how he would do so). I also don't see how reminding undecided voters (who were primarily White Democrats in the Rust Belt) of the good economy would do much good, as that was Humphrey's basic strategy to begin with. BTW, welcome to the Forum. Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Dancing with Myself on March 04, 2010, 09:29:15 PM Attack George Wallace in the south
Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Bo on March 04, 2010, 09:30:57 PM Attack George Wallace in the south That would likely cause Wallace voters to vote for Nixon, though, since many of them supported Wallace due to the race riots, forced busing, and opposition to civil rights. Nixon was closer to Wallace's positions on these issues than Humphrey was. Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl on March 04, 2010, 09:32:07 PM Even if Humphrey won all of Wallace's states, he still would have lost the election.
Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Dancing with Myself on March 04, 2010, 09:37:35 PM Mainly, he could distanced himself from Johnson more. It would not have helped him much though, i would not have voted for him.
Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Sewer on March 04, 2010, 09:40:58 PM Taken a strong stand against the war. Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Guderian on March 05, 2010, 04:31:23 AM Taken a strong stand against the war. It worked great for McGovern, so I'm sure it would have been a blast for Humphrey too. He would also commit the most outrageous flip-flop ever. Title: Re: If you were Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager in 1968, what would you have done Post by: Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl on March 05, 2010, 08:15:10 AM Taken a strong stand against the war. It worked great for McGovern, so I'm sure it would have been a blast for Humphrey too. He would also commit the most outrageous flip-flop ever. McGovern was destroyed by a lot of things, but opposition to the war wasn't one of them. |