1956: Nixon vs. Stevenson

[johnpressman]

Easy win for Nixon, though I doubt he would have chosen Stassen as his runningmate.  Stassen was the prime mover behind the "dump Nixon" attempt that same year.   Besides, Harold was already considered a has been and/or a political outsider by 1956.

By the way, How do you folks get hold of the maps and how does one customize them re. elections?
 

[johnpressman]

Yes, Dirksen!  OK, why wasn't ol Ev considered for VP in 1960?  He is a heck of a campaigner, and would have added Illinois and maybe Michigan and Missouri to Nixon's total.  Picking Dirksen for VP could have given Nixon the presidency! Hey, NO ONE was a worse campaigner that Henry Cabot Lodge who added 0 to the ticket, so anyone short of an Eagleton/LeMay disaster would have tipped the balance in close states such as the above three.  Texas was also super close but I don't count Everett's charm being a big factor in LBJ's home state.

As for Nixon vs Stevenson in 1956, the sympathy vote for Ike and the desire to let the GOP have a full 8 years would have given Nixon a victory similar to Ike's in 1952.  He might have added another Southern State or two and lost Pennsylvania, for instance.