A New America Series - 1972 General Election

[Maxwell]

A New America Series - 1972 General Election

Conservatives of both parties were deeply dissatisfied with the election. President George McGovern may be the most left-wing President the U.S. has had in over 30 years, and Senator Mark Hatfield largely agreed with President McGovern on foreign affairs. However, the differences on domestic issues are nevertheless wide - even as Hatfield strides his own party's left-wing. Hatfield promises a plan that will put the United States Budget to balance by 1976 while offering a program of tax credits, additionally he has criticized President McGovern for being "fiscally irresponsible" and demonizing American business. McGovern and Hatfield offer widely different views on healthcare reform - McGovern is for a single payer type Universal Healthcare, while Hatfield proposes a series of tax credits and mandates. Oh, and McGovern is pro-choice while Hatfield is pro-life, the first election where this has mattered. Otherwise, both candidates agree completely on foreign affairs (other than some minor nuances that have been amplified like the amount of money offered for aid), are anti-death penalty, and find agreement on sizing down the military sector.

Because of their similarity of views, a large amount of usually safe states are up for grabs. Hatfield hopes to secure the recently pretty Republican South with his choice of VP - Majority Whip Howard Baker. Baker is likable, but is much more moderate than many of his Southern counterparts. McGovern knows he's probably the person to blow the South, so Vice President Birch Bayh has been touring the South with many of the Southern Democrat Senators claiming "the boys are back in town", hoping state Democrat dominance can help win over the disaffected.

2 Days.

[Classic Conservative]

NOTA, I wouldn't vote

[/]

#reelectthepresident

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Reelect the president!

[Intell]

Hatfield, just because of abortion out of anything else.

[NeverAgain]

Reelect the president!

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Tipping my hat to Hatfield.

[Sumner 1868]

Reelect the president!

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Reelect the president!

[Goldwater]

Actually, I'm gonna go with McGovern, considering I'm pro-choice and have become open to the idea of universal healthcare.

[Potus]

NOTA, I wouldn't vote

Hatfield if only to get a pro-life President at such a crucial time.

[Mr. Smith]

Reelect the president!

We need that single-payer UHC now! That's true pro-life.

[Supersonic]

Hatfield, although it's more a vote against McGovern.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

An enthusiastic vote for Hatfield/Baker.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

NOTA, I wouldn't vote

Such a low energy move.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Mark Hatfield

[Sumner 1868]

Ugh, a single-issue referendum.

[Kingpoleon]

America doesn't need to be over-taxed, over-worked, and over-billed;
America needs the honest man, the smart man, the decent man - Hatfield!

[/]

Not happy results

[NeverAgain]

Abortion. Only reason. I hope McGovern makes a '76 Cleveland.

[Hillary pays minimum wage]

The respondents seem to be very out of touch with the electorate.  Why so out of touch?

[Maxwell]

The respondents seem to be very out of touch with the electorate.  Why so out of touch?

That's a good question. Maybe there is a left-swing to some of the new posters, who are much more likely to respond to these poll questions both at the ballot box and in the thread.

[Maxwell]

A New America Series - 1972 General Election

During the primary season, Democrats expected to face Paul Laxalt, who trailed President McGovern by nearly double digits thanks to Laxalt's deeply conservative views. The person who came out of the primaries, however, was moderate Senator Mark Hatfield, who was generally tied with President McGovern. Hatfield's convention speech, blasting ideological partisanship, gained him applause with moderates of both parties, and caused President McGovern to be on the defensive.

In the following months, the economy crashed, and at 8% unemployment and stagflation, McGovern's approval ratings cratered. Despite immediate action, which was a sizable stimulus package, McGovern was not able to recover after that. Hatfield began leading the President by significant margins, and even after a debate where many thought the President bested the Republican, it was too late. The President was only able to win very traditional Democratic states (and Michigan).

Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR)/Majority Whip Howard Baker (R-TN) - 54.9%, 417 EV's
President George McGovern (D-SD)/Vice President Birch Bayh (D-IN) - 45.1%, 121 EV's

[Goldwater]

The one time I vote for the Democrats, you guys lose.

[NeverAgain]

McGovern Comeback in '76!