Why did Massachusetts vote so much differently than surrounding states in 1972?

[Joe McCarthy Was Right]

McGovern beat Nixon in Massachusetts by a comfortable margin, but Nixon beat McGovern in Rhode Island and Vermont by comfortable margins. Even if you subtract Suffolk County, McGovern still beats Nixon in Massachusetts.

[hunter gatherer]

McGovern beat Nixon in Massachusetts by a comfortable margin, but Nixon beat McGovern in Rhode Island and Vermont by comfortable margins. Even if you subtract Suffolk County, McGovern still beats Nixon in Massachusetts.

honestly a lot of college students who were opposed to the war in Vietnam, mass is also just generally more liberal then the rest of the country. plus you also had what was left of the kennedy worshiping cult of personality after the assassinations of president kennedy and RFK.

[darklordoftech]

Massachusetts has been the most dovish state in America since the Puritans arrived.

[Podgy the Bear]

It has been somewhat surprising how Massachusetts really deviated in 1972--not only from the national trend but also New England. 

McGovern targeted several big states (start of the inside straight strategy to get to 270) and MA was in the top 10 in population in the 1970s.  Obviously, colleges made a significant factor--and perhaps the Vietnam War (though it was nearing the end)--this may be why he did well in MA and not so terribly in MI (where he lost by "only" 56-42).

[Hydera]

College educated and also there was a still sizeable strong democratic voter base from 1968. Rhode Island despite the democrat winning by a large margin in 1968, switched heavily to Nixon considering their less college educated and more-so blue collar types that were ripe for party switching by Nixon over his appeal to social issues.