1960 - Why did Nixon do so well in Fulton County?

[It's Perro Sanxe wot won it]

He came very close to winning it (he lost 49-51) despite it being one the most reliably Democratic counties in the nation, having voted Republican on just two occasions (1928 and 1972) since 1876. In fact, it was the best performance by a losing candidate in the county’s history, much better than Eisenhower’s.

[Bootes Void]

Nixon won over 30% of the black vote and he did good in urban areas. thats why

[E-Dawg]

Nixon won over 30% of the black vote and he did good in urban areas. thats why

But Eisenhower in 1956 did even better among the black vote and did even better in most urban areas. So why would the county go from +15 for Stevenson to only +2 for Kennedy?

[South Dakota Democrat]

Nixon won over 30% of the black vote and he did good in urban areas. thats why

But Eisenhower in 1956 did even better among the black vote and did even better in most urban areas. So why would the county go from +15 for Stevenson to only +2 for Kennedy?

Could the Catholic factor been at play somehow?  No idea if it was decisive in Fulton County, just spitballing.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Atlanta and Fulton County wished to avoid the support of ongoing segregation, thinking it was bad for Atlanta's dreams of being a World Class city.  It's business establishment were very much part of the national Republican establishment, even if they voted Democratic in local elections. 

All of this is pre-Goldwater.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Atlanta and Fulton County wished to avoid the support of ongoing segregation, thinking it was bad for Atlanta's dreams of being a World Class city.  It's business establishment were very much part of the national Republican establishment, even if they voted Democratic in local elections. 

All of this is pre-Goldwater.

Fulton County was a county that was MORE Democratic in 1964, not less.

[MillennialModerate]

NO CLUE. It takes a special kind of incompetence to consistently vote Democratic year in and year out (good choice) and then when the best Democratic nominee there ever was - you choose THAT year to vote Republican?!

[jingletoes]

Here is a thread I found. Apparently Nixon got 54% in Atlanta's black districts.

https://www.talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=319676.0