While Nixon wasted precious time with trips to HI/AK in 1960, JFK and Co. went hardcore at NY, PA, TX, MO IL and MI over and over and over. And, we know what the result was.
Even in 2004, when polls showed that HI may actually be halfway competitive, Bush's team made the mistake of sending people out there. For four EVs, it wasn't worth it. '04 was going to be won/lost with the same states that won/lost 2000, adding OH obviously to that mix.
In '16, the Democrats won't win/lose because of AK's three EVs. They will win/lose from the same states that have defined the road to 270 over the last few cycles.
The American electorate was much more elastic in 1960 than it is today.