Hubert Humphrey wins in 1968, running for re-election in 1972

[Ebowed]

Humphrey wins election in 1968 over Nixon, picking up battlegrounds like Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, and New Jersey, just barely giving him the edge needed to pass 270 votes.  (Alternatively, we could say that nobody got the 270 electoral votes and the House, which was controlled by the Democrats, chose Humphrey by default.)

He continues the programs of Johnson's Great Society while gradually pulling the troops out of Vietnam before the election begins.  He's re-nominated despite opposition by George McGovern, and Muskie gets the Vice Presidential nomination again.

Reagan gets the Republican nomination (which he had sought in 1968) and Bob Dole of Kansas gets the V.P. nomination.  Who would you vote for?

Let's see some maps, too!

[Rob]

Reagan would probably win:



The electoral vote is 333-205.

[Ebowed]

I think Humphrey would definitely get Maine.  Possibly Washington, Ohio, Missouri, and Texas as well.

[No more McShame]

Reagan/Dole 53% 357 EV
Humphrey/Muskie  47% 181 EV

[True Democrat]

Reagan/Dole 53% 357 EV
Humphrey/Muskie  47% 181 EV

When you change the map, at least change the percentages.

[No more McShame]

When you change the map, at least change the percentages.

Sorry, I'm lazy

[Beet]

With the economy booming and if U.S. involvement in the war was over, and the nation calming down, Reagan would have been harder-pressed to overcome the Keynesian conensus that still existed in 1972. Remember Reagan lost the 1976 GOP primary to Jerry Ford in both Kentucky and Tennessee. Reagan would have had Democratic fatigue and his charisma going for him, but other than that surprisingly little.



Humphrey 274
Reagan 264

[Bo]

I vote Humphrey, and he would defeat Reagan in a landslide.

[Peter the Lefty]

Humpty Dumpty would win.  Reagan was still way too far out of the mainstream.  And my theory (though who knows) is that Rockefeller might have won the nomination in 72 in spite of his personal life because of Reagan's extremities.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Without Nixon's evil economic schemes, the economy could be in a shambles by '72. Nor does Humphrey orchestrate foreign policy in such a well-timed and theatrical manner.

[quentincollin]

If Humphrey had managed the end of the war in Vietnam and if the economy was still strong, he would still be favored to win reelection.  Reagan would have a better shot in 1976.  There would have been 4 terms with a Democrat in the White House and the need for change would be better. Reagan would win a close race with Muskie as Dem nominee.

[SingingAnalyst]

Voters would have been ready for change by 1972:

Humphrey 94 EV / 43%
Reagan 444 EV / 55%

(I know, the map looks funny with WV red and MD blue)

[Dr. Cynic]

Voters would have been ready for change by 1972:

Humphrey 94 EV / 43%
Reagan 444 EV / 55%

(I know, the map looks funny with WV red and MD blue)

I doubt this map would even be close to accurate if HHH accomplished the end of the war and the economy stayed roughly the same as it did IRL.

[SingingAnalyst]

Voters would have been ready for change by 1972:

Humphrey 94 EV / 43%
Reagan 444 EV / 55%

(I know, the map looks funny with WV red and MD blue)

I doubt this map would even be close to accurate if HHH accomplished the end of the war and the economy stayed roughly the same as it did IRL.

I hope so, but racial unrest might have increased (as much as I would like to think the contrary) and HHH might be blamed for higher unemployment (5.6% in '72 vs 3.5% in '68). Especially if HHH advocated for busing (as my AP History teacher thought he would), he would have lost Macomb County, Michigan, and the nation.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

There was a lot of economic turmoil and subsequent reaction as seen in government policies. The state of the economy depends on what short-term underhanded measures Humphrey's willing to greenlight. Nixon was able to win re-election because of the short-term, later disastrous actions of his first term.