In the end, Brown underwhelmed. In spite of the biggest Electoral Landslide in 20 years, and the biggest Popular Landslide in 32.
The reason? Turns out the South was not only competitive, but far more than expected thanks to the polarizing Civil Rights movement which divided the black vote and white vote. One would have to question how far Duke would've gotten without the selection of Sam Nunn.
However, pundits also underestimated the nativist vote on the Mexican Border states which gave Duke a decent shot there, and the liberal populist vote in the Midwest, New York City, and Baltimore areas which still loyally held on to President Jackson and Vice President McCarthy.