Question About Hubert Humphrey And 1968

[Lincoln Republican]

In 1968, Vice President Hubert Humphrey lost to former Vice President Richard Nixon, in an election that gave Nixon a comfortable win in the Electoral College, but only a razor thin win in the popular vote for Nixon.

A switch of a few thousand votes in certain states would have put Humphrey into the Oval Office.

Humphrey's running mate in 1968 was Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine.  The only state where Muskie really helped Humphrey win, I believe, was Maine.

In 1960, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas was given much credit for helping John F. Kennedy win the election, with wins in Texas and the south.

Was there someone in 1968 who could have been "an LBJ for Humphrey" and who could have helped Humphrey win the election?

Please discuss.

[Lincoln Republican]

The issue is not whether LBJ was still alive in 1968, I know he was alive in 1968.

The issue and the question is was there any other Vice Presidential candidate that Humphrey could have chosen in 1968, besides Muskie, that would have helped him to possibly win the election.

[Lincoln Republican]

I think Symmington would've swung MO over, and possibly enough cross-border support for IL too. Which would've made it 246 H - 247 N... and it would've gone to the house.

And the House in January, 1969 would have elected Humphrey President.

But with Illinois and Missouri going to Humphrey, this would have given Humphrey 229, Nixon 263.

Humphrey 191, plus Illinois 26, plus Missouri 12, total 229.

Nixon 301, minus Illinois 26, minus Missouri 12, total 263.

But the election would still go to the Democratically controlled House. 

[Lincoln Republican]

I think Symmington would've swung MO over, and possibly enough cross-border support for IL too. Which would've made it 246 H - 247 N... and it would've gone to the house.

And the House in January, 1969 would have elected Humphrey President.

If the election had gone to the House, I agree that's what would've happened.

However, Wallace would have likely attempted to broker a deal with one of the candidate in return for pledging his Electoral Votes to them. Possibly a place for Wallace in the cabinet or at the very least a promise of support for Wallace's agenda. He would've been more likely to negotiate with and make such a deal with Nixon than with Humphrey.

That raises a very interesting prospect for this election.  In fact, this is exactly the type of situation that Wallace hoped would happen, that neither Nixon nor Humphrey would win a majority in the Electoral College.

Another question, how would southern Democrats go?  Philosophically, they would have been much closer to the more conservative Nixon than they would have been to the very liberal Humphrey.

So no Electoral College majority in 1968 would have made for a very dramatic showdown indeed.