Out of the Shadow

[Continential]

GO LINDSAY

What will the Conservative Republicans who voted for Dole/Nixon vote for?

[Cold War Liberal]

YIKES. The Southern states just don't get it: I hope we don't see some of these states not pulling a Trujillo in exterminating minorities in terms of other extreme methods of suppression.

Things aren't that bad, they're just not great. I was thinking more like some states skirting poll tax laws, purging non-white people from the voter rolls "accidentally" or for "inactivity" and, at worst, using intimidation tactics to keep non-white voters away from the polls, not the South devolving into an apartheid state complete with ethnic cleansing.

I'm going to assume Briscoe runs for the TX Governor's Mansion in 1974 for the first 4-year term ? I feel bad for the guy.

Governor Sanders won a four-year term in '74. Perhaps Sanders will run for Senate in '78, leaving room for Briscoe to run? Sanders is in his third term, so who knows what his plans for '78 are.

[KaiserDave]

HHH is clearly the best or second best President of the 20th century in this scenario. For that reason I support the man best prepared to continue his legacy: Vice President Scoop Jackson.

[VirginiaAaron]

HHH forever!

[America Needs R'hllor]

Go Jackson!

[Cold War Liberal]

August 16 - 19, 1976
Democratic National Convention

As the delegates piled into New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the Democratic convention, the party was mostly unified behind Vice President Jackson. Though there was a small group of very vocal anti-war activists who had supported Lowenstein (who threatened to vote for John Lindsay now that Lowenstein had endorsed him), they were nowhere near a majority. So when Mayor Herman Badillo gaveled in the convention on August 16, no one expected any kind of difficulty in getting Jackson the nomination.

Jackson’s job now, as he saw it, was to draw those anti-war activists back under the Democratic banner. Jackson had wanted to make John Kerry, Congressman from Massachusetts and vocal anti-war activist, his running mate, but Kerry would only be 34 on inauguration day of 1977, making him ineligible for the Presidency and thus the Vice Presidency as well. For now, Jackson settled for passing a peace plank in the platform and giving Kerry a keynote address on the first night of the convention.

Congressman Kerry officially switched his endorsement from Lowenstein to Jackson in the well-received speech that was intended to get the younger, anti-war crowd behind the more hawkish Vice President. “I was in the war before I was against it,” Kerry proclaimed, “so I know a thing or two about wars. What I also know is that Henry Jackson will keep this country safe from all enemies, foreign and domestic. That’s why I’m going to support him in 1976.”

On the second day of the convention, Jackson announced his pick for Vice President: Kentucky Senator Katherine Peden. Katie Peden had been one of the first Senators to turn against the Vietnam War, and would hopefully help keep Southerners in the Democratic camp (after they had trended Republican under Goldwater). Peden was widely liked in Kentucky, and she was an energetic and ferocious campaigner and staunch supporter of civil rights. Plus, twelve years after Senator Smith joined Governor Rockefeller on the GOP ticket, the Democrats would finally nominate a woman for the Vice Presidency.

Peden was almost unanimously nominated for Vice President, and gave a short, witty, and energetic speech accepting the nomination. With the ticket chosen, the rest of the convention was dedicated to speeches from prominent politicians, including Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX-18), who laid out the list of things Democrats stand for and why Jackson and Peden were the best candidates to accomplish them.

President Humphrey cracking jokes with Senator Carter before Carter’s keynote speech

Senator Carter addressing the Convention

Senator Jimmy Carter (D-GA), steadily becoming an important Democratic player in the Senate and, as many believed, a model for what Southern Democrats should be in the future, gave a keynote speech in which he gave his resounding endorsement to the Jackson/Peden ticket. Carter called Peden, his close friend, Senate ally, and fellow New South Democrat, “a shining example of decency and a good woman who embodies the values of equality and good ol’ Southern hospitality.”

Governor Robert Kennedy: “We need more Democratic leadership in this nation, and in November, we will have the opportunity to continue the progress President Humphrey and Vice President Jackson have made in the past four years and see it through the next four!”

Former President John F. Kennedy: “During my eight years in office, I worked to protect civil rights for all Americans. While I couldn’t quite get all the way there, I got damn close, and the Humphrey Administration has finished much of what I’d have liked to have done myself. However, there is still work to be done. Inequality between the races, sexes, and other minority groups” - Kennedy did not explicitly state it, but conservatives assumed by this he meant gay people - “still looms large over millions of Americans. Thankfully, this year’s convention has nominated the team who I think will be excellent at doing the work that remains.”

Though Kennedy’s speech was vigorous, while getting onto and off of the stage the former President looked unusually pained for a 59 year old. Speculation and gossip about his health swirled in the aftermath of the otherwise critically acclaimed speech. As always, the Kennedy family stayed mum on the subject.

The public had seen less and less of Hubert Humphrey since the ailing President had announced he had cancer several months ago. So, when he gave a keynote address to the convention delegates, all eyes were on the 37th President. He gave a rousing speech that lauded his accomplishments and gave all the things he wished he had accomplished, while also expressing hope that Jackson and Peden would win and finish what he’d started.

For many, watching Humphrey’s convention speech was a sad affair; while the President was not feeble or obviously sick by his manner of speech, his appearance was obviously deteriorating and his body language was that of a dying man. For this reason, people who listened to the speech on the radio reacted to it differently than those who watched it on television. President Humphrey got a seven minute standing ovation after he was done.

Finally, Vice President Jackson spoke after being nominated by voice vote. His acceptance speech brought the convention to their feet, and is widely remembered to be his best ever. “We’re going to provide all Americans with access to healthcare, access to jobs, and economic and physical safety from those who wish us harm. We’re going to protect American interests and make sure freedom rings not only from sea to shining sea, but around the world. We’re going to protect the civil rights and liberties of Americans from Baltimore to Birmingham, from Tulsa to Toledo, from Sarasota to Spokane, and everywhere in between. And we’re going to continue to push further into space than mankind has ever gone before. So, fellow Democrats, I humbly and gratefully accept your nomination for President of the United States!”

JACKSON/PEDEN 1976
For a Strong America

[Cold War Liberal]

August 25, 1976

Secretary Fyodor Kulakov ostensibly resigns as General Secretary of the Soviet Union. He cites his recent “nervous breakdown” in his letter of resignation. Some outside observers believe the “breakdown” was fake and the resignation letter a forgery; several US analysts call the situation a “bloodless coup” by Second Secretary Suslov and, possibly, the KGB.

Second Secretary Suslov, who had been de facto leader of the USSR for a little more than a month, officially becomes the General Secretary later in the day.

August 26, 1976

Federal Election Observers, a nonpartisan group assembled and employed on a temporary basis (akin to census workers) by the Federal Election Agency, begin operating in the South. Some, like Alabama Governor Bill Baxley and Florida Governor Reubin Askew, welcome the workers with open arms; others, like Mississippi Governor Gil Carmichael and Arkansas Governor Dale Bumpers, are indifferent; and a few, like Governor Westmoreland of South Carolina, are openly hostile to the idea.

Governor Westmoreland calls election observers “the Humphrey/Jackson insurance policy” and “flagrant violators of the rights of the people.” South Carolina sues the federal government over the issue.

August 27, 1976

The League of Women Voters announces it is sponsoring debates between the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. If the candidates accept, three debates between Vice President Jackson and Mayor Lindsay will take place on September 23, October 6, and October 22, and a debate between Senators Peden and Ruckelshaus will take place on October 15.

Both the Jackson and Lindsay campaigns accepted all four debates within hours.

Gallup Poll
September 1, 1976
Do you approve of the job President Humphrey is doing as President?
Yes: 59%
No: 34%
No opinion: 4%
Not sure: 3%
General Election Polling

Vice President Henry M. Jackson/Senator Katherine Peden: 54%, 430 Electoral Votes
Mayor John Lindsay/Senator William Ruckelshaus: 39%, 75 Electoral Votes
Others: 1%, 0 Electoral Votes
Undecided/Tossup: 6%, 33 Electoral Votes
Safe D - Likely D - Lean D - Tossup - Lean R - Likely R - Safe R

September 3, 1976

Prometheus 25, the joint US-Soviet Mars lander, becomes the first successful landing of a scientific vessel on another planet.

September 4, 1976

Secretary Suslov ends Soviet involvement in the Prometheus program, ending thirteen years of US-Soviet joint space ventures. President Humphrey calls this “regrettable,” but lauds his doubling of NASA’s budget and reminds the Soviets that America will continue to push deeper into space, with or without the Soviets.

Suslov’s rebuttal? “A new space race has begun.”

September 5 - 23, 1976

Mayor John Lindsay begins his general election campaign in earnest with a large rally in his hometown of New York City. He plans to campaign in the city for a few days, then move up through New England before flying down to the South to try to make inroads with black voters whose right to the franchise was recently guaranteed, and who were turned off by the GOP due to the recent memory of the Goldwater Administration. After that trip, he will spend considerable time doing debate preparations.

Senator William Ruckelshaus will focus on campaigning in the industrial Midwest on Lindsay’s behalf, and will also do occasional debate prep.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jackson also makes his way across the South, trying to appeal not only to black voters but to skeptical conservative whites as well. Jackson attempts to get the point across that Lindsay is weak on foreign policy and Jackson, in contrast, will be tough on Communism. Calling Lindsay a New York liberal doesn’t hurt either. Jackson has extremely strong support from unions, which means he doesn’t worry much about the Midwest, though he makes sure to visit Wisconsin at least once. New England voted against him in the primary, and Lindsay is overperforming there, so Jackson makes stops there as well.

Senator Peden also campaigns in the South.

September 17, 1976

H. R. Haldeman, former Nixon ‘76 campaign manager, is indicted by the Southern District of New York on several different counts, including directing the Flatiron break-in and several financial and campaign finance crimes.

September 23, 1976

The first of three Presidential debates between Vice President Henry Jackson and former New York Mayor John Lindsay takes place at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and moderated by Edwin Newman, this debate is the first since the Kennedy/Rockefeller debates of 1964.

Vice President Jackson uses the debates to argue for universal healthcare, and attempts to hammer Lindsay on foreign policy. Lindsay makes the case for Republicans to “get back to our progressive roots” on social issues while restraining the government in some areas and using it to advance the social good in others. Lindsay surprisingly holds his own in the foreign policy debate and turns it around on Jackson, asking why President Humphrey’s foreign policy achievements are lacking compared to his domestic accomplishments. Jackson sputters for a minute before retorting that “that’s why I’m running: to build a safer world.”

Jackson, obviously the less energetic of the two men, is out of his element in the first debate. His attempt to make up for what he lacks in charisma by touting his knowledge and experience gets mixed reviews. Lindsay is younger and more charismatic, but has a weaker record. Nevertheless, the mayor is seen as having bested the Vice President in the first debate.

Towards the end of the debate, the sound went out, pausing the debate. Jackson and Lindsay sat down with each other in front of the camera (the video feed was still live) and made small talk while audio technicians tried to fix the problem. It was a message to the people that even fierce opponents could still get along.

September 27, 1976

General Secretary Suslov and Chairwoman Jiang meet for the first time. The meeting is tense and only lasts an hour.

Gallup Poll
October 1, 1976
Do you approve of the job President Humphrey is doing as President?
Yes: 60%
No: 34%
No opinion: 3%
Not sure: 3%
General Election Polling

Vice President Henry M. Jackson/Senator Katherine Peden: 52%, 338 Electoral Votes
Mayor John Lindsay/Senator William Ruckelshaus: 43%, 73 Electoral Votes
Others: 1%, 0 Electoral Votes
Undecided/Tossup: 4%, 127 Electoral Votes
Safe D - Likely D - Lean D - Tossup - Lean R - Likely R - Safe R

[America Needs R'hllor]

I'm guessing Suslov's hawkishness will help Jackson, since it definitely invites a strong response. Interesting, as always!

[Cold War Liberal]

SPECIAL: 1976 Senate Races

Arizona
Senator Jack Williams (R) vs. Former Ambassador Raúl Héctor Castro (D)

Once a fairly popular governor, Jack Williams appointed himself to the Senate seat being vacated by President Goldwater in 1968. Since winning a term of his own in 1970, Senator Williams’ popularity has declined, especially since he voted in favor of reducing farm subsidies, which inspired anger in his home state. He faces a fierce competitor in Raúl Héctor Castro, former ambassador to El Salvador and Bolivia. Castro drew upon angry farmers to win the Democratic primary, and looks formidable in the general. However, his Mexican heritage and Communist-sounding surname hurt him with conservatives in this very conservative state.

RATING: TOSSUP

California
Senator George Brown, Jr. (D) vs. Former Governor Robert Finch (R)

George Brown, Jr. has been a solidly progressive voice in the United States Senate since his election in 1970. Having run a grassroots campaign in that year’s primary, Brown has made sure to keep in tune with what his constituents want, making him fairly popular. The Republicans have nominated Robert Finch, who served as Governor from 1969 to 1971. Most voters see him as undistinguished and bland.

RATING: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC

Connecticut
Senator Joseph Duffey (D) vs. Former Congressman Lowell Weicker (R)

Joseph Duffey ran as an anti-Vietnam progressive in 1970, and has voted in such a progressive manner ever since. His opponent in 1970, Lowell Weicker, is back for a rematch in 1976, and has been campaigning against Duffey almost since the day Weicker lost the last election. While a very liberal Republican, Weicker is campaigning as a common-sense moderate.

RATING: TOSSUP

Delaware
Senator William Roth (R) vs. Mayor Thomas Maloney (D)

William Roth is popular in his home state, and is heavily favored to defeat Wilmington Mayor Thomas Maloney.

RATING: SAFE REPUBLICAN

Florida
Senator Lawton Chiles (D) vs. Mayor John Grady (R)

Lawton Chiles is very popular among Floridians, and is widely expected to easily sail to reelection in November, probably by double digits.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Hawaii
Senator Cecil Heftel (D) vs. Former Governor William Quinn

While Cecil Heftel is quite popular in Hawaii, he faces a potentially strong opponent in former Governor Quinn. Quinn was instrumental in making Hawaii a state, and was both Hawaii’s last territorial Governor and first state Governor. However, Senator Heftel is more ideologically in tune with what Hawaiians want, and combined with the advantage of incumbency, is favored to win reelection.

RATING: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC

Indiana
Senator Vance Hartke (D) vs. Mayor Richard Lugar (R)

Vance Hartke has been unpopular in his home state for years, his progressive policies increasingly at odds with his conservative constituency. In his last election, during the Democratic wave year of 1970, he only won by around 5 percentage points. This time, Hartke is running against Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar, a young moderate Republican. Lugar has been polling ahead of Hartke by at least high single digits and at most by 25 points.

RATING: LIKELY REPUBLICAN

Maine
Senator Edmund Muskie (D) vs. Activist Robert A. G. Monks (R)

Senator Muskie is a popular incumbent running against a perennial candidate with no political experience.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Maryland
Senator Joseph Tydings (D) vs. Congressman Lawrence Hogan (R)

Over the past 12 years, Joseph Tydings has managed to anger members of the right in his state with his support for gun control, while angering the left with support for a series of crime-related bills perceived as racially discriminatory. Tydings survived a primary challenge from former Governor and 1968 Democratic vice presidential nominee George P. Mahoney, winning 47% to 42%, with more liberal candidates splitting the rest of the vote. Congressman Lawrence Hogan won the Republican nomination, and has been polling well ahead of Senator Tydings.

RATING: LIKELY REPUBLICAN

Massachusetts
Senator Ted Kennedy (D) vs. Businessman Michael Robertson (R)

His first reelection campaign since his disappointing 1972 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Senator Kennedy is assured reelection against token opposition.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Michigan
Secretary of State Richard H. Austin (D) vs. Congressman George Meader (R)

Senator Philip Hart is retiring, leaving an open seat. Michigan Secretary of State Richard Austin won the Democratic nomination. People have raised concerns that Austin, who is African-American, will have a difficult time appealing to white voters, while others say it will help him turn out working-class black voters. The Republicans have nominated 13-term Congressman George Meader, a moderate Republican. This is a closely-watched race on the national scale, with both the DSCC and the NRSC dumping large amounts of money into their candidates’ coffers.

RATING: TOSSUP

Minnesota
Senator Walter Mondale (D) vs. Professor Jerry Brekke (R)

Senator Mondale is quite popular in his home state, and is only facing token opposition.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Mississippi
Senator John Stennis (D) vs. Mayor Charles Evers (R)

Senator Stennis is a fixture of Mississippi politics and has been since 1928. Expected to go unchallenged this year, John Lindsay’s campaign strategist Roger Stone has instead recruited the Mayor of Fayette, Charles Evers, to run against him. Evers, an activist and the brother of civil rights movement martyr Medgar Evers, is a moderate Republican. Stone is under no illusion that Stennis will lose, but hopes Evers’s showing is good enough to show that moderate Republicans can be competitive with conservative Democrats in the South.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Missouri
Congressman Jerry Litton (D) vs. State Auditor Kit Bond (R)

Senator Stuart Symington is choosing to retire. Jerry Litton beat out several other candidates for the Democratic nomination, perhaps because he had the endorsement of Governor Thomas Eagleton. Litton, considered a rising star, is a progressive Democrat and an energetic campaigner. Republicans nominated State Auditor Kit Bond, a conservative Republican.

RATING: TOSSUP

Montana
Congressman John Melcher (D) vs. MFBF Executive Officer Stanley Burger (R)

Majority Leader Mike Mansfield is retiring. Congressman John Melcher is considered the heavy favorite over the Republican nominee, Stanley Burger, former Executive Officer of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Nebraska
Senator Frank Morrison (D) vs. Congressman John McCollister (R)

Senator Morrison is seeking another term, and is facing three-term Congressman John McCollister.

RATING: LEAN DEMOCRATIC

Nevada
Senator Paul Laxalt (R) vs. Lt. Gov. Robert E. Rose (D)

Conservative Senator Laxalt is facing a moderate Democrat in the Nevada Senate race. 
Democrats are investing heavily in this race, as Laxalt may be too far to the right, even for a conservative state like Nevada. However, Laxalt has continued to hammer Rose on his inexperience; he has only been in office for a year and a half.

RATING: LEAN REPUBLICAN

New Jersey
Senator Harrison Williams (D) vs. Director David Norcross (R)

Senator Williams is popular and expected to defeat NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission Executive Director David Norcross quite easily.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

New Mexico
Senator Joseph Montoya (D) vs. Fmr. Astronaut Harrison Schmitt (R)

Joseph Montoya is seeking a third term in the Senate, but faces a strong recruit for the GOP in former NASA astronaut Harrison Schmitt. The young and telegenic Schmitt is in contrast to Senator Montoya, who is not frequently on the campaign trail.

RATING: TOSSUP

New York
Congresswoman Bella Abzug (D/L) vs. Commentator William F. Buckley, Jr. (R/C)

With Senator W. Averell Harriman retiring, several candidates are attempting to fill his shoes. Congresswoman Bella Abzug won the Democratic primary, and is campaigning on a progressive platform that won her the support of the Liberal party as well. Meanwhile, commentator William F. Buckley, Jr. is running for Senate again, this time as the nominee of a Republican/Conservative fusion ticket.

RATING: LEAN DEMOCRATIC

North Dakota
Senator Quentin Burdick (D) vs. State Senator Robert Stroup (R)

Heavily favored for reelection, Senator Burdick looks set to cruise to a fourth term, facing State Senator Robert Stroup. The NRSC has all but abandoned this race.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Ohio
Senator John Glenn (D) vs. Former Senator Robert Taft, Jr. (R)

A rematch of the 1970 election, Senator Glenn is seeking a second term while former Senator Taft is looking to win his seat back. Glenn is a moderate who has been a valuable Humphrey ally in the Senate, while Taft was a conservative Goldwater ally during his tenure.

RATING: LEAN DEMOCRATIC

Pennsylvania
Fmr. District Attorney Arlen Specter (R) vs. State Senator Jeanette Reibman (D)

Minority Leader Hugh Scott is retiring. Republicans nominated District Attorney Arlen Specter over Congressman John Heinz, while State Senator Jeanette Reibman won the Democratic nomination. Specter is a moderate Republican running in a swing state, while Reibman is also a moderate.

RATING: TOSSUP

Rhode Island
Governor Phillip W. Noel (D) vs. Fmr. Governor John Chafee (R)

John O. Pastore is not seeking reelection. Incumbent Governor Phillip W. Noel narrowly won the Democratic primary, while former Governor John Chafee easily won the GOP’s nod. The two Governors are locked in a tight race for the Senate seat.

RATING: TOSSUP

Tennessee
Senator Albert Gore, Sr. (D) vs. Congressman Robin Beard (R)

After narrowly winning another term in 1970, Senator Gore is seeking a fifth term, which he promises will be his last. The increasingly unpopular Senator, aged 68, is facing tough opposition from GOP Congressman Robin Beard, a 37-year-old who has helped build the Tennessee GOP into a competitive party.

RATING: LEAN REPUBLICAN

Texas
Senator George Bush (R) vs. Professor Phil Gramm (D)

George Bush is running for a second term, and is facing a conservative economics professor, Phil Gramm. Bush is heavily favored.

RATING: SAFE REPUBLICAN

Utah
Senator Frank Moss (D) vs. Congressman Orrin Hatch (R)

Three-term Senator Moss is running for a fourth, but Congressman Orrin Hatch is running to stop him. Hatch’s campaign is that of change from the status quo; his main argument is that Moss is out of touch with the people of Utah, and his slogan is “what do you call a Senator who’s served in office for 18 years? You call him home.”

RATING: LEAN REPUBLICAN

Vermont
Senator Robert Stafford (R) vs. Governor Thomas Salmon (D)

Senator Stafford, a liberal Republican, is running for another term in the Senate. Governor Thomas Salmon is the Democratic nominee. The race is expected to be tight, with neither candidate favored.

RATING: TOSSUP

Virginia
Governor Henry Howell (D) vs. Fmr. Senator Harry Byrd, Jr. (I)

After Senator George Rawlings was outed as gay earlier in 1976, he decided to forgo reelection. In his stead, popular Governor Henry Howell is running for his seat against the man Rawlings beat in an upset in 1970: Harry Byrd Jr. Howell is a populist with wide appeal among the working class. However, Byrd is formidable, because while the Byrd machine may be damaged, it is still a facet of Virginian political life.

RATING: LEAN DEMOCRATIC

Washington
Senator Tom Foley (D) vs. George M. Brown (R)

Senator Tom Foley, who was appointed to Vice President Jackson’s Senate seat in 1973, is running for a term of his own. He faces no serious opposition.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

West Virginia
Senator Robert Byrd (D)

Senator Byrd is running unopposed.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Wisconsin
Senator William Proxmire (D) vs. Stanley York (R)

Senator Proxmire is facing token opposition.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Wyoming
Senator Gale McGee (D) vs. State Senator Malcolm Wallop (R)

Senator McGee is largely unpopular in Wyoming, and State Senator Wallop has run ads highlighting the less popular aspects of McGee’s Senate career.

RATING: LIKELY REPUBLICAN

[LoneStarDem]

I wonder what happens to L. Douglas Wilder in this TL ?

[Cold War Liberal]

I wonder what happens to L. Douglas Wilder in this TL ?

He’s the current Lt. Gov. of VA

[America Needs R'hllor]

My endorsements for the Senate races:
Arizona- Raúl Héctor Castro
California- George Brown, Jr.
Connecticut- Lowell Weicker
Delaware- William Roth
Florida- Lawton Chiles
Hawaii- Cecil Heftel
Indiana- Vance Hartke
Maine- Edmund Muskie
Maryland- Joseph Tydings
Massachusetts- Ted Kennedy
Michigan- Richard H. Austin
Minnesota- Walter Mondale
Mississippi- Charles Evers
Missouri- Jerry Litton
Montana- John Melcher
Nebraska- Frank Morrison
Nevada- Robert E. Rose
New Jersey- Harrison Williams
New Mexico- Joseph Montoya
New York- Bella Abzug
North Dakota- Quentin Burdick
Ohio- John Glenn
Pennsylvania- Jeanette Reibman
Rhode Island- John Chafee
Tennessee- Albert Gore, Sr.
Texas- George Bush
Utah- Frank Moss
Vermont- Robert Stafford
Virginia- Henry Howell
Washington- Tom Foley
West Virginia- Abstain
Wisconsin- William Proxmire
Wyoming- Gale McGee

[Cold War Liberal]

SPECIAL: 1976 Gubernatorial Races

Arkansas
Governor Dale Bumpers (D) vs. Mrs. Leona Troxell (R)

Governor Bumpers is quite popular. He is facing former National Federation of Women President Leona Troxell, a key player in the development of the Arkansas GOP. Bumpers is expected to win in a landslide.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

Delaware
Governor Sherman Tribbitt (D) vs. Congressman Pierre S. du Pont IV (R)

Governor Tribbitt inherited the financial woes of his predecessor when he was sworn in in 1973, and he has been ineffective in combating those problems. Congressman “Pete” du Pont, of one of the state’s most powerful families, has been nominated to oppose him.

RATING: LIKELY REPUBLICAN

Illinois
Governor Daniel Walker (D) vs. Congressman Donald Rumsfeld (R)

An outsider who successfully beat the establishment Democrat in the 1972 primary, Walker has been an ineffective Governor due to the personal animosity between Walker and the “Daley Machine,” as the Governor calls it. Walker very narrowly beat back a primary challenge himself. Meanwhile, the GOP is united behind popular moderate Congressman Donald Rumsfeld, and reporters have called Walker’s general election campaign a “death march.”

RATING: SAFE REPUBLICAN

Indiana
Governor Birch Bayh (D) vs. State Representative Otis Bowen (R)

After losing his Senate seat in a narrow race in 1968, Birch Bayh made a political comeback in 1972, winning the Indiana governorship. However, he lost a rematch with Senator Ruckelshaus in 1974, raising concerns that Bayh was using his new position to attempt to get back into his old one. Indiana House of Representatives Speaker Otis Bowen has won the GOP nomination to face Bayh, while the incumbent has pledged not to run for Senate again until he leaves the Governor’s mansion.

RATING: TOSSUP

Missouri
Governor Thomas Eagleton (D) vs. Missouri Attorney General John Danforth (R)

Governor Eagleton was popular and the heavy favorite to win reelection until early September, when rumors surrounding his mental health began swirling. According to leaks, the Governor has sought out electroshock therapy for depression for years, including as Governor. The polls between Eagleton and the Republican nominee, John Danforth, have significantly tightened in recent weeks.

RATING: LEAN DEMOCRATIC

Montana
Governor Thomas Judge (D) vs. Montana Attorney General Bob Woodahl (R)

Governor Judge has built up a strong personal brand and has governed effectively since his election in 1972, making his reelection all but certain.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

New Hampshire
Governor Malcolm McLane (D) vs. State Representative John H. Sununu (R)

Most would say Governor McLane has done his job well since his upset victory as an independent in 1972. After switching to the Democrats to win in 1974, the moderate Governor McLane now faces a moderate Republican in State Rep. Sununu.

RATING: LEAN DEMOCRATIC

North Carolina
Lt. Gov. Jim Hunt (D) vs. State Representative James Holshouser (R)

With Governor Skipper Bowles term-limited, his lieutenant governor, Jim Hunt, is running to replace him. However, he faces a very strong challenge in moderate state Rep. James Holshouser. Hunt and Holshouser are good friends on a personal level, but have become political adversaries in this election.

RATING: TOSSUP

North Dakota
Governor Arthur Link (D) vs. Public Service Commissioner Richard Elkin (R)

Governor Link’s politics and policies have been all over the map, with socially conservative positions, fiscally moderate positions, and progressive economic policies. Whether this means he appeals to few voters or to many remains to be seen, as polling for North Dakota is not very reliable this cycle. North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Richard Elkin is the Republican nominee.

RATING: TOSSUP

Rhode Island
Lt. Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy (D) vs. James Taft (R)

The Lt. Governor, Joseph Garrahy, has served eight years in that position, and now that Governor Noel is running for Senate, he is going for a promotion.

RATING: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC

Utah
Lawyer Scott Matheson (D) vs. Utah Attorney General Vernon Romney (R)

Popular three-term Democratic Governor Calvin Rampton has decided to retire. Scott Matheson, a lawyer working as the General Counsel for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, has won the Democratic nomination. Meanwhile, Utah Attorney General Vernon Romney (cousin of former Michigan Governor and presidential candidate George W. Romney) is the Republican nominee.

RATING: TOSSUP

Vermont
State Treasurer Stella Hackel (D) vs. State Representative Richard Snelling (R)

With Governor Thomas Salmon running for Senate, the election comes down to a race between Stella Hackel, the Treasurer of Vermont, and Richard Snelling, the Majority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives.

RATING: LEAN REPUBLICAN

Washington
Governor Albert Rosellini (D) vs. King County Executive John Spellman (R)

A progressive activist of a Governor, Albert Rosellini is quite popular. Having already served two terms from 1957 to 1965, Rosellini made a comeback in 1972 and is looking for one more term, which the voters appear willing to grant him. He is facing a moderate-to-liberal Republican in County Executive Spellman, who is running on fiscal responsibility and environmental protection.

RATING: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC

West Virginia
Governor Jay Rockefeller (D) vs. Fmr. Governor Cecil Underwood (R)

A popular governor and a member of the wealthy Rockefeller family, Governor Jay Rockefeller is a formidable foe for the West Virginia GOP. Republicans have nominated Cecil Underwood, the last Republican to hold the office of Governor in that state. Still, Rockefeller is seen as untouchable, as if his favorability fades, he has his enormous personal wealth to back up his campaign.

RATING: SAFE DEMOCRATIC

[LoneStarDem]

Keep me updated if minorities get their full constitutional rights of changing the South's repressive tactics in regards to voting, running for political office, etc.

[Cold War Liberal]

October 1, 1976

President Humphrey travels to Panama again to hammer out the final details of a canal agreement. Vice President Jackson is not thrilled with this; Jackson, unlike Humphrey, is against giving the canal to Panama and does not want this to become a campaign issue this late in the game.

October 3, 1976

South Carolina v. United States is appealed to the US Supreme Court, and the Court agrees to hear it. Governor Westmoreland pleads with the Supreme Court to decide whether election observers are constitutional before the election.

October 5, 1976

The Southern District of New York determines that there is not enough evidence to indict Richard Nixon in the case of the Flatiron breakin; however, there is also not enough evidence to clear him of wrongdoing. At the same time, H.R. Haldeman is sentenced to 5 years in prison.

October 6, 1976

The second Presidential debate between Vice President Jackson and former Mayor Lindsay takes place at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts. It is moderated by NPR journalist Pauline Frederick.

Jackson performs somewhat better this time, appearing more energetic. While Lindsay is still seen as more engaging and personable, he is caught off guard by a question about whether his administration is responsible for New York City’s current financial predicament, and makes a gaffe wherein he momentarily forgets the Kashmiri Crisis is one of the world’s three most pressing crises (the other two being the Sino-Soviet standoff and the Southeast Asian famine).

Still, while definitely not Lindsay’s best performance, the former Mayor showed once again that he could mostly hold his own against the Vice President.

October 9, 1976

President Humphrey and Maximum Leader Omar Torrijos sign the Torrijos-Humphrey Treaties. The first treaty, the neutrality treaty, officially makes the Panama Canal neutral territory, and indefinitely allows the United States to defend its neutrality. The second treaty will transition the canal over to Panamanian control at midnight on January 1, 2000.

October 13, 1976

As the VP candidates prepare for their debate, Vice President Jackson and Mayor Lindsay continue to campaign. Lindsay, who had mostly been campaigning in New England, barnstorms New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia, before moving on to the Midwest. Vice President Jackson is confident that he has locked up the South, and so he campaigns in the Plains, Mountain West, and then California.

October 15, 1976

Senator Katherine Peden and Senator William Ruckelshaus debate at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. James Hoge of the Chicago Sun-Times moderates.

The debate is rather uneventful. Both Senators are polite and reserved, and all of Hoge’s questions were answered in a measured and competent manner by both candidates. Consensus is that both Peden and Ruckelshaus are perfectly qualified to be Vice President, with the American people being very impressed by Senator Peden’s command of the issues.

October 17, 1976

A black Federal Election Observer, B. Thomas Hawthorne, is assaulted by several white men in Gaffney, South Carolina. They called him, among other things, one of “Jackson’s thugs.” Several hours after the attack, Hawthorne dies at the Gaffney hospital.

Governor Westmoreland categorically denounces the attack, stating that while he “fervently disagrees with the FEOs being here in South Carolina, physical violence is not the answer.”

October 18, 1976

Angry African-Americans and liberal whites protest the killing of B. Thomas Hawthorne. Counter-protesters also congregate, and some altercations occur.

October 20, 1976

Mayor Herman Badillo announces that the City of New York has found a solution to the impending budget gap. Some of Badillo’s more ambitious programs will see their funding decreased, while the commuter tax (which Badillo calls the “Lindsay Tax,” as it was put into place by the GOP Presidential nominee and Badillo’s predecessor as Mayor) will be increased. Critics mostly praise Badillo for averting a fiscal crisis.

October 22, 1976

Vice President Jackson and Mayor Lindsay debate for the final time, at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. ABC’s Barbara Walters moderates.

Jackson comes out of the gate swinging, hammering Lindsay on his administration of New York City and its budget during his two terms as Mayor. Lindsay deflects and blames the national economy and middle class migration out of the city, then tries to turn the subject to “our country’s future and the more important issues this election is about.”

Jackson was also forceful when the topic switched to foreign policy. “The Soviet domination of Eastern Europe will end under a Jackson Administration,” the Democratic nominee vowed. Lindsay immediately shot back with “at what cost? Europe must be free, but needlessly risking nuclear war is not the way to do so.” Many see Jackson’s “Soviet domination” comment as a worryingly bellicose statement, with some even calling it a gaffe.

Most viewers agree that Jackson was too negative during the debate, and that Lindsay won.

October 25, 1976

The US Supreme Court decides 7-2 in South Carolina v. US that election observers do not inherently violate the Elections Clause of Article 1 of the Constitution. Chief Justice Marshall’s majority opinion states that FEOs must be nonpartisan and only deployed to “places that have demonstrated problematic behavior in the past.” Thus, under the Elections Clause and the Federal Campaign Act of 1975’s establishment of the Federal Elections Agency, the State of South Carolina loses the case and election observers will be allowed to continue.

October 23 - November 2, 1976

In the final days of the campaign, the two party nominees scramble to lock in the states they need to reach 270 electoral votes.

Vice President Jackson returns from campaigning on the West Coast to debate in Virginia, then heads out to the Midwest to make sure he wins the region, as he is expected to do with his strong support from labor unions. He spends Election Day in Ohio. His running mate, Senator Katherine Peden, campaigns across the South, culminating in a get-out-the-vote effort in her home state of Kentucky on Election Day.

Mayor Lindsay returns to the Atlantic Northeast, making stops in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maine before finishing with a big rally in New York on the day of the election. Senator Ruckelshaus campaigned in the Midwest and Plains, before joining Lindsay in New York.

Gallup Poll
November 2, 1976
Do you approve of the job President Humphrey is doing as President?
Yes: 59%
No: 37%
No opinion: 3%
Not sure: 1%
General Election Polling

Vice President Henry M. Jackson/Senator Katherine Peden: 50%, 292 Electoral Votes
Mayor John Lindsay/Senator William Ruckelshaus: 45%, 92 Electoral Votes
Others: 1%, 0 Electoral Votes
Undecided/Tossup: 4%, 154 Electoral Votes

Safe D - Likely D - Lean D - Tossup - Lean R - Likely R - Safe R

[Cold War Liberal]

November 2, 1976
6:00 PM

“Good evening and welcome to CBS News coverage of Election Night 1976! I’m Walter Cronkite. Today tens of millions of Americans - almost 90 million of us - went to the polls to cast our ballots, either for four more years of Democratic control, or four years of a new direction. Vice President Jackson’s lead in the polls has steadily declined over the past few months, so don’t count Mayor Lindsay out just yet.

“Now, it’s 6 PM on the east coast, and polls have just closed in most of Indiana and parts of Kentucky. Both states are too early to call at this hour.”

7:00 PM

“It’s 7 PM here in New York, and polls have just closed in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, and the rest of Kentucky and Indiana. We can make a handful of projections on the Presidential level: Vice President Jackson will win Georgia by about nine points. We can project that Vice President Jackson will also carry Kentucky by a similar margin. Kentucky, the home state of Jackson’s running mate, Katherine Peden, has fallen into their column tonight. One last call: Vermont is returning to its Republican roots: it has decided to vote for John Lindsay tonight. Florida is too early to call; Indiana, South Carolina, and Virginia are too close to call.”

JACKSON/PEDEN: 55%, 21 EVS
LINDSAY/RUCKELSHAUS: 44%, 3 EVS
OTHERS: 1%, 0 EVS
TOO CLOSE/EARLY TO CALL: 50 EVS
POLLS OPEN: 464 EVS
“In the Senate, we can make a projection: Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar has beaten Senator Vance Hartke in a landslide in Indiana. This is the first pickup of the night in what could be a very good night for the GOP in the Senate, even if it’s not a great night for John Lindsay. All it would take would be three GOP pickups to end the Democrats’ Senate supermajority. Additionally, it would only take 13 House pickups to end the Democrats’ supermajority in the lower chamber.

“Florida is too early to call, while Vermont and Virginia are too close to call at this hour.”

Democrats: 42 seats ( 27)
Republicans: 26 seats ( 5)

“And finally, the gubernatorial elections in both Indiana and Vermont are too close to call.”

Democrats: 26 ( 14)
Republicans: 10 ()

7:30 PM

“Polls have closed in three more states: Ohio, West Virginia, and North Carolina. We can call that Vice President Jackson has won the state of North Carolina. We can also predict the Vice President will be the victor in West Virginia. Ohio is still too close to call, but Jackson has a strong lead there as well, likely thanks to his strong union and blue collar support. It’s not looking good quite yet for John Lindsay.”

JACKSON/PEDEN: 55%, 40 EVS
LINDSAY/RUCKELSHAUS: 44%, 3 EVS
OTHERS: 1%, 0 EVS
TOO CLOSE/EARLY TO CALL: 75 EVS
POLLS OPEN: 420 EVS
“Robert Byrd was running unopposed for the West Virginia Senate race, so he is immediately re-elected. Ohio is too early to call at the moment. In Virginia, Governor Howell has beaten Harry Byrd Jr., becoming the next Virginia Senator; this also means Lt. Gov. Douglas Wilder will become the first African-American governor of Virginia. The other races are either too early or too close to call at this time.”

Democrats: 44 seats ( 25)
Republicans: 26 seats ( 5)

“The North Carolina gubernatorial election is also too close to call, along with the other gubernatorial elections.”

Democrats: 26 ( 14)
Republicans: 10 ()

“Stay tuned for the 8 o’clock poll closings. Polls close in 15 states and in parts of five others, and we will surely have calls to make during that time. This is CBS News.”

[Cold War Liberal]

November 2, 1976
8:00 PM

“I’m Walter Cronkite, and welcome back to CBS News coverage of Election Night 1976. It’s 8 PM on the east coast, and polls have just closed in a litany of states and in the District of Columbia. We are prepared to make a number of calls.

“Vice President Jackson has won Alabama. The Vice President will win the District of Columbia with roughly 80% of the vote. The state of Maryland and her 10 electoral votes will go to the Vice President of the United States. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will also vote for Henry Jackson. The state of Maine as a whole is still too close to call, but Maine's first Congressional district will go to John Lindsay. Mississippi’s 7 electoral votes have been won by Vice President Jackson. Surprisingly, Missouri has been called early for the Democratic ticket, as Vice President Jackson is doing very well there tonight. John Lindsay has taken the state of New Hampshire; the moderate Republican mayor is basically a perfect fit for New England. The former New York City mayor has also won Oklahoma. Rhode Island and her 4 electoral votes have chosen Vice President Jackson. Tennessee has voted for Henry Jackson as well. And finally, a big win for the Vice President: Texas goes Democratic tonight, handing Jackson 26 electoral votes.

“Connecticut is too close to call. Delaware is too close to call. Illinois is too close to call. Kansas is too early to call. Michigan is too early to call. New Jersey is too close to call. Pennsylvania is too close to call. South Dakota is too early to call. The state of Maine and its second Congressional district are too close to call.

“Wait a minute, big news out of the South: after seeing the results out of the panhandle, we can project Florida will vote for Henry Jackson.”

JACKSON/PEDEN: 56%, 152 EVS
LINDSAY/RUCKELSHAUS: 43%, 16 EVS
OTHERS: 1%, 0 EVS
TOO CLOSE/EARLY TO CALL: 174 EVS
POLLS OPEN: 196 EVS
“Focusing on the Senate, we can call Delaware for William Roth, a Republican hold. Likewise, Lawton Chiles has won easy reelection in Florida. Lawrence Hogan has won Maryland’s Senate election, defeating Senator Tydings by a surprisingly large margin. Edmund Muskie has won reelection in Maine by a wide margin. Ted Kennedy has also won a landslide reelection. John Stennis has won another term in Mississippi, but by a smaller than expected (though still large) margin. Harrison Williams has won reelection in New Jersey. GOP Congressman Robin Beard has beaten Senator Al Gore in Tennessee, the third Republican flip of the night. And Senator George Bush has won in a landslide in Texas.”

Democrats: 49 seats ( 20)
Republicans: 30 seats ( 1)

“We can easily call the Illinois gubernatorial election for Congressman Donald Rumsfeld, who has destroyed Governor Dan Walker. We can also project that John Danforth has defeated Thomas Eagleton, and will become the next Governor of Missouri. Governor McLane has won reelection in New Hampshire. John Garrahy has won the governor’s mansion in Rhode Island.

“Also, we should have made this projection at 7:30, but we were having technical difficulties: Governor Jay Rockefeller has won an overwhelming reelection in West Virginia.”

Democrats: 29 ( 11)
Republicans: 12 ( 2)

8:30 PM

“Welcome back to CBS. It is 8:30, and polls just closed in Arkansas. Vice President Jackson has just won the state by double digits.

“Indiana, home state of John Lindsay’s running mate, Senator William Ruckelshaus, has gone to the Republican ticket by a shockingly narrow margin of just under two percentage points. We are also confident that John Lindsay will win the state of Maine as a whole, though results in the second district are still unclear at this time.

“Wait, we have some breaking news, some really good news for the Jackson camp: the Democratic ticket has carried Ohio and its 25 electoral votes. This state was absolutely critical for Jackson, and he has taken it. We can call South Carolina for the Jackson/Peden ticket as well.

“Stay tuned for the 9 o’clock poll closings, when 10 more states and parts of several others begin reporting results.”

JACKSON/PEDEN: 55%, 191 EVS
LINDSAY/RUCKELSHAUS: 44%, 31 EVS
OTHERS: 1%, 0 EVS
TOO CLOSE/EARLY TO CALL: 126 EVS
POLLS OPEN: 190 EVS
“We can now project that Lowell Weicker has won his rematch with Senator Joseph Duffey in Connecticut, the fourth GOP flip of the night. And we’re also going to project that John Chafee has beaten Governor Noel in the Rhode Island Senate race, another GOP pickup. With this win, the Republicans will officially make a net gain of at least one seat tonight, though when all is said and done, Republicans will likely have won a few more seats than that.

“However, we can now make a major call for the Democrats: Ohio Senator John Glenn has won reelection. With his five-point victory over former Senator Bob Taft, Jr., Glenn has insured that if Democrats win the Presidency as they look set to do, they will have a Senate majority even if they lose every outstanding Senate race, which is highly unlikely.”

Democrats: 50 seats ( 19)
Republicans: 32 seats ( 1)

“Dale Bumpers has won reelection in a massive landslide in Arkansas. We can project that Pete du Pont will be the next Governor of Delaware, the third gubernatorial flip of the night. We can also confirm that Governor Birch Bayh has very narrowly won a second term as Indiana governor, by less than one percentage point.”

Democrats: 31 ( 9)
Republicans: 13 ( 3)

[KaiserDave]

Looks like it's over. President Jackson!

[Trans Rights Are Human Rights]

I'm okay with this.

[LoneStarDem]

I'm assuming they're still counting votes in the Midwest ?

[Neo-Malthusian Misanthrope]

Keep in mind that the map is so far lining up with IRL 1976. I expect some gains for Lindsay, probably nowhere near enough to prevent a Dem victory but I doubt it'll be a landslide for Jackson.

[LoneStarDem]

Interested to see what the Exit Polls looked like determining how Americans voted including minorities, women, others, etc.,

[Orwell]

Keep in mind that the map is so far lining up with IRL 1976. I expect some gains for Lindsay, probably nowhere near enough to prevent a Dem victory but I doubt it'll be a landslide for Jackson.

But Jackson was favored quite heavily in some of the states still out to get him well over 270.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

This timeline in my opinion belongs in the pantheon of Atlas timelines! I love it!

[Continential]

This timeline in my opinion belongs in the pantheon of Atlas timelines! I love it!