1972 Nixon vs Muskie

[Lincoln Republican]

In 1972, Nixon wanted to run against Senator George McGovern of South Dakota.

He did not want to run against Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine, hence Watergate.

In the 1972 election Nixon won 49 states.  McGovern won Massachusetts.

If the 1972 election, had the Democrats nominated Muskie, how would the 1972 election have turned out?

Republican

For President, President Richard Nixon of New York
For Vice President, Vice President Spiro Agnew of Maryland

Democratic

For President, Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine
For Vice President, Senator Henry Jackson of Washington

How would this 1972 election have turned out?

Please discuss.

Use a map if you wish.
    

[morgankingsley]

Nixon wins but by a smaller margin, probably a 56-44 modest victory rather than a 61-37 landslide

[brucejoel99]

Yeah, it's really only a slight exaggeration to say that Nixon chose his Democratic opponent in 1972.

As for the alternate result, Muskie would've done better than McGovern, but he still would've lost in a fairly decisive manner, likely getting crushed by a Nixon landslide closer to how much Clinton won by in 1996 than how much Nixon actually won by in 1972, but regardless, it still would've been a huge Democratic loss.

[Sir Mohamed]

Nixon still wins by a wide margin, but Muskie does better than McGovern, who was probably the weakest 1972 Dem candidate.

✓ President Richard Nixon (R-CA)/Vice President Spiro Agnew (R-MD): 494 EVs.; 57.5%
Senator Edmund Muskie (D-ME)/Senator Henry Jackson (D-WA): 44 EVs.; 41.3%

[Free Bird]

Nixon still wins by a wide margin, but Muskie does better than McGovern, who was probably the weakest 1972 Dem candidate.

✓ President Richard Nixon (R-CA)/Vice President Spiro Agnew (R-MD): 484 EVs.; 54.3%
Senator Edmund Muskie (D-ME)/Senator Henry Jackson (D-WA): 54 EVs.; 42.5%

Did a few touchups to the states, namely giving Muskie Oregon and Hawaii. It's funny. This is still a massive electoral smackdown by all metrics, but it almost looks respectable next to McGovern's performance IOTL.

[UWS]

Yeah, it's really only a slight exaggeration to say that Nixon chose his Democratic opponent in 1972.

As for the alternate result, Muskie would've done better than McGovern, but he still would've lost in a fairly decisive manner, likely getting crushed by a Nixon landslide closer to how much Clinton won by in 1996 than how much Nixon actually won by in 1972, but regardless, it still would've been a huge Democratic loss.

I think he meant Nixon hoped for McGovern to be his opponent.

[Sir Mohamed]

Nixon still wins by a wide margin, but Muskie does better than McGovern, who was probably the weakest 1972 Dem candidate.

✓ President Richard Nixon (R-CA)/Vice President Spiro Agnew (R-MD): 484 EVs.; 54.3%
Senator Edmund Muskie (D-ME)/Senator Henry Jackson (D-WA): 54 EVs.; 42.5%

Did a few touchups to the states, namely giving Muskie Oregon and Hawaii. It's funny. This is still a massive electoral smackdown by all metrics, but it almost looks respectable next to McGovern's performance IOTL.

Nixon still won OR by 10%, probably too much to flip. He won HI by 25%, which would definitely have been too much for Muskie to overcome.

[Lincoln Republican]

Yeah, it's really only a slight exaggeration to say that Nixon chose his Democratic opponent in 1972.

As for the alternate result, Muskie would've done better than McGovern, but he still would've lost in a fairly decisive manner, likely getting crushed by a Nixon landslide closer to how much Clinton won by in 1996 than how much Nixon actually won by in 1972, but regardless, it still would've been a huge Democratic loss.

I think he meant Nixon hoped for McGovern to be his opponent.

Nixon wanted to run against McGovern, true, and that's what happened through Republican dirty tricks and manipulation.

[538Electoral]

Nixon. ME is the only change.

[Agonized-Statism]

President Richard Nixon (R-CA) / Vice President Spiro Agnew (R-MD) ✓
Senator Edmund Muskie (D-ME) / Senator Henry Jackson (D-WA)