A crazy 1976 scenario

[President Johnson]

According to historian Richard Norton Smith, some Democrats including Hubert Humphrey, raised questions about a possible brokered Democratic convention in 1976. In such a scenario, the possibility of asking Nelson Rockefeller to switch parties and run as the Democratic nominee was given consideration. What if that plan had succeeded and Rocky, as sitting vice president, would run against President Ford in the November election?

Norton Smith talks about that here (at 3:25 minutes; the link already starts there): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd_DNA9ozmI#t=3m25s

[Lechasseur]

Ford probably wins. I think he holds all of his states in the West, he'd sweep the South and he'd also win Ohio at least.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

This would destroy the Democrats. Rockefeller's party, worldview, and association with the Ford administration aside, in the new era of post-Watergate scrutiny of political figures, he'd be eaten alive.

[dw93]

This is one way the GOP (whether Ford or Reagan were the nominee) would win the 1976 election in a landslide.

[bagelman]

maybe this? shot in the dark. 405-133.