1968 United States Presidential Election

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Well here we are guys, 1968. This year has presented us with a few interesting choices.

After a close primary race, Romney was able to use moderate and establishment support to win at the convention. To placate the conservatives, Governor Ronald Reagan was nominated for Vice President. Romney is campaigning on a successful and moderate record as Governor of Michigan and pledging to bring to a soon end the Vietnam War. "For twelve years, Republicans have kept the nation in prosperity. A Romney administration will continue that prosperity, and with it bring peace." As well, the ticket is touting Reagan's stance as a law and order governor.

Red - Vice President Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona
Blue - Governor George W. Romney of Michigan
Green - Senator Richard M. Nixon of California
Yellow - Senator Clifford Case of New Jersey

The Democrats too had to wait until the convention to see clearly who their nominee would be. While George McGovern would only barely beat Gene McCarthy in the primaries, at the convention McCarthy's campaign would collapse, leading to a rousing first ballot nomination of McGovern. For Vice President, fellow liberal Wayne Morse of Oregon was nominate. McGovern is pointing at the ideological incoherence of the Republican ticket and the irony that a Republican of all people would be campaigning on ending the Vietnam War, despite also touting the accomplishments of the last twelve years.

Green - Senator George S. McGovern of South Dakota
Red - Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota
Blue - Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York
Yellow - Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota

As for third parties, there are two choices. The American Independent Party is running Alabama Governor George Wallace and Colonel Harland Sanders. Wallace is using middle and working class angst against the hippies, the war, and "expanding government" in order to win support. As well is the Universal party, campaigning on a libertarian platform based on words such as "liberty" and "tolerance". As well, they share a vague connection with the Flying Saucer Party of 1960. So yes, aliens may be involved.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Updated the first post to include primary maps.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Looks like y'all got about an hour.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I think it's safe to officially call the election a victory for Senator McGovern.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Interestingly, McGovern got about the same percentage as OTL Humphrey.

It'd be closer to Nixon (43.4%) than Humphrey, from what the atlas is telling me.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The 1968 United States Presidential Elections
With the Republican coalition falling apart thanks to Vietnam, racial issues, civil unrest, and inflation, George McGovern was able to win the White House, becoming the first Democrat to do so since Franklin D. Roosevelt. He'd forged a very different coalition, becoming the first Democrat to ever win without the South. George Romney's campaign, meanwhile, beleaguered by Romney's gaffes, the ticket's "ideological incoherence" and the problems that Smith ended her term on, won only 28% of the vote. It was a happy day for third parties, nonetheless. The Universal Party, running on an libertarian platform (aside from of course more funding for NASA and the like) and with many members claiming to have seen aliens, was able to gain a lot of support in Sun Belt states, and with a fluke victory in Iowa where the party had some roots. Meanwhile, George Wallace, the recipient--in large part--of the Democrats' Southern vote, was able to actually beat out the Universal Party in the electoral vote thanks to regional strength despite coming fourth place in the popular vote. Despite a deeply divided country, George McGovern had won a comfortable electoral victory and was ready to enter the White House.

Senator George S. McGovern (Democrat-South Dakota)/Senator Wayne Morse (Democrat-Oregon) 314 electoral votes, 43.3% of the popular vote
Governor George W. Romney (Republican-Michigan)/Governor Ronald W. Reagan (Republican-California) 128 electoral votes, 28.3% of the popular vote
Governor George C. Wallace (American Independent-Alabama)/Colonel Harland Sanders (American Independent-Kentucky) 63 electoral votes, 11.7% of the popular vote
Minister Kirby J. Hensley (Universal-California)/Mr. Roscoe MacKenna (Universal-California) 32 electoral votes, 16.7% of the popular vote