What Should Hubert Humprey Have Done in Order to Win in 1968?

[Dr. Cynic]

Ed Muskie was the best choice Humphrey could've made. He appeared in stark contrast to Agnew and Muskie even invited protestors onto the stage to debate him. Muskie was an inspired choice.

The one mistake Humphrey made was not distancing himself from the Vietnam policy sooner. Had he done so just a few days earlier, he probably would've won, that by Nixon's own admission. Humphrey came on strong in the final weeks, and attacked Nixon mercilessly for refusing to debate him. That and other things bumped Humphrey up, but the distancing just did not happen in time.

[Dr. Cynic]

HHH should have stepped down since he was a horrible candidate and would have made a horrible president.

You're no prince yourself.

[Dr. Cynic]

What about talking more about the good economy? I'm sure the economy mattered to many voters in 1968. If Humphrey would have talked more about JFK's and LBJ's economic record and about how he'll continue it, I'm pretty sure he would have gotten some voters that were unhappy with Vietnam due to their desire to keep the prosperity going.

Or he could have just opposed the Vietnam War entirely.

Didn't he kinda do that on the campaign, though? He said he'd end the war as soon as possible.

He personally wanted to end the war quickly, however, LBJ threatened to hold the Democratic machine away from him, and he desperately needed the funds. So he had to walk a fine line.