How come McGovern won Massachusetts?

[Derek]

Also, Massachusetts is the most liberal/Democratic state in the Union (see above) and it has been so for quite some time, certainly since 1972. Not only were they the only state to vote for McGovern, they were also the only state to give Clinton over 60% in 1996 (and Kerry in 2004). Further, the Democrats dominate the state; until recently, they were an all-Democratic state, and until 2008, the only such state--it voted for Obama in 2008, has a Democratic governor and lieutenant governor, (had) 2 Democratic senators and all representatives are Democrats.

Why didn't Massachusetts vote for Carter or Mondale in 1980 and 1984 then?

Seriously? Reagan won just about everywhere. Massachusetts was very close, but not much could be done for those 2 guys. Together they managed to lose 93 out of 100 states.

[Derek]

Sgt Shriver was on the ticket and simply put it, and he wasn't on the ticket in 1980

that too

[Derek]

Sgt Shriver was on the ticket and simply put it, and he wasn't on the ticket in 1980

Why on earth would the voters of Massachusetts care that an extension of their state's royal family was running for vice president?  You seem to have fallen for the all-too-common fallacy of vastly overstating the impact of a ticket's running mate.

You know that's a good point. They didn't care enough to vote for Coakley in honor of Ted Kennedy.

[Derek]

Schwarzenegger and Cuomo are also part of the Kennedy clan as well and that enhanced their political fortunes too.

Or perhaps Andrew Cuomo is doing well because his dad is Mario Cuomo, and Arnold Schwarzenegger did well because he was Arnold frickin' Schwarzenegger?? 

Right and plus Arnold if he were eligible to run for president wouldn't carry CA unless it was a landslide.