How Did George McGovern Win Massachusetts So Big?

[Turbo Flame]

In 1984, Walter Mondale lost 49 states with Minnesota being his only state win but it was a struggle as he only won by 3,761 votes. That's understandable.

Now turn back the clock to 1972 and George McGovern also loses 49 states including his own. Massachusetts was the only state to vote for McGovern and he won by 220,462 votes. You think with the AFL-CIO not endorsing McGovern, George changing running mates, 36% of the Democratic voters bolting for Richard Nixon (10% bigger then Reagan in 1984), Nixon getting 13% of the Black vote, Nixon cracking 20% in DC, and McGovern's super liberal platform would have him win the Bay State by less then half of Mondale's Minnesota vote total in 84, but that's not the case. I know Massachusetts is a super liberal state, but still. What's the explanation behind this?

[One Term Floridian]

It's gotta be the Kennedy legacy, at least somewhat. Memories of the 1960 campaign must have still been fairly fresh in MA voters' minds. It's only natural that Jack Kennedy's home state was the only one Nixon never managed to win in his three campaigns for the presidency.

[Hnv1]

In Hunter Thompson's F&L it seems like McGovern had an effective machine with both students and working-class voters in mass.

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

I mean his running mate was part of the Kennedy family, if only by marriage, but I doubt that made much difference.

How come none of Nixon’s 49 wins were even close? The closest was MN, but he still won it by more than 5.

[Indy Texas]

How come none of Nixon’s 49 wins were even close? The closest was MN, but he still won it by more than 5.

Less polarized political era.

[Podgy the Bear]

The McGovern campaign targeted the university vote nationally.  And even though that strategy made little impact around the country, it was successful only in MA (with slight success in MI).   And I believe this is what made the difference between MA and RI, two states that tracked identically for numerous election cycles.  McGovern won MA by 9 and lost RI by 6.

Add to that the significant Democratic dominance and the Kennedy influence in MA.  Regarding the comfortable win for McGovern in MA, the result mirrors that of VT and ME in 1936, the two states that FDR lost by sizable margins.

[TheElectoralBoobyPrize]

How come none of Nixon’s 49 wins were even close? The closest was MN, but he still won it by more than 5.

Less polarized political era.

There are other presidential elections during this era where there were close states. In fact, 1972 is a bit of an anomaly in not having any.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Massachusetts was probably also one of the places which felt: "Nixon is calling him an extreme liberal. Maybe that's not actually a bad thing..." and kept that in their minds when they were in the voting booth.

[South Dakota Democrat]

It's gotta be the Kennedy legacy, at least somewhat. Memories of the 1960 campaign must have still been fairly fresh in MA voters' minds. It's only natural that Jack Kennedy's home state was the only one Nixon never managed to win in his three campaigns for the presidency.

McGovern was also very close to the Kennedys.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

It's gotta be the Kennedy legacy, at least somewhat. Memories of the 1960 campaign must have still been fairly fresh in MA voters' minds. It's only natural that Jack Kennedy's home state was the only one Nixon never managed to win in his three campaigns for the presidency.

McGovern was also very close to the Kennedys.

The Kennedy connection certainly made for a lot in Massachusetts...