1976 Presidential election: why was it so close?

[President Johnson]

By 1976, the economy was actually not that bad, it was on the upturn. Especially compared to 1974 and 1975. I think Ford also benefited from relative peace around the world and Carter being an inexperienced candidate. Ford also ran a strong general election campaign and had the momentum in the final weeks, despite his "no Soviet domination" gaffe. I read some political scientists actually thought Ford would have won if the campaign went on for another week. And while Ford received criticism for the pardon, Carter didn't attack him for it. Also, the country knew that Ford himself was not involved in Watergate and that he was indeed a decent person.

Another factor may have been the Democratic Party became toxic at the presidential level after 1968 because many Americans, for the wrong reasons, felt liberalism had failed them. After 1968, the New Deal coalition quickly fell apart since Southern whites found their new home in the Republican Party (at least in non-statwide races; Democrats still dominated statewide until the 1990s) and unions losing power and influence. Plus, the New Deal coalition de facto became leaderless after there was no one left with either Lyndon Johnson's political skills nor Bobby Kennedy's charisma. Jimmy Carter was neither full of charisma, nor was he a master politican and tactician. While he's a person of great character, he proofed to be ineffective as president, leaving a nation full of pessimism and selfdoubt. That haunted them for over a decade to come.

In retrospect, it would have been better for the Democrats, as well as the USA, if Ford actually went on to win the 1976 presidential election, but that's a discussion for another thread.

[President Johnson]

one word: Playboy.

Well, most Southern conservatives still voted for Carter. I doubt he would have won much bigger without the incident.

Also crazy to think about the "scandals" of the early days now compared Trump. Just like Poppy dared to check his watch during a debate.