1960: Connally/Rockefeller (R) vs. JFK/Smathers (D)

[TDAS04]

LBJ pushes daisies shortly into his second term as US Senator from Texas, and gets replaced by his close aide John Connally, who then finishes the term. After switching parties due to his growing disillusionment with the Democratic Party, Connally seeks the Republican presidential nomination. Several factors converge to create a perfect storm, allowing Connally to grab the GOP nomination, stunning everyone. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller is selected as Connally’s running mate to balance the ticket.

Meanwhile, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts obtains the Democratic nomination. To appeal to Southern conservatives, he picks his good friend—Senator George Smathers of Florida—as his running mate.

Who wins the general election, Kennedy or Connally? Which one survives?

Discuss with maps.

[Agonized-Statism]

Senator John Connally (R-TX) / Governor Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY)
Senator John Kennedy (D-MA) / Senator George Smathers (D-FL) ✓

Conservative Democrats were still viable in the national party and especially in Texas in the 1950s- the Yarborough-style liberals wouldn't wrestle control from the Shivercrats until the '70s- so that would be a little early for a Connally defection. Republicans, especially the Eastern Establishment, wouldn't trust him, and it would be too early to get a full Southern Strategy going. To add to that, Kennedy in the '60s wasn't all that unpalatable to segregationists compared to, say, Humphrey, and Smathers would sweeten the deal. IMO the unpledged electors still do their thing too, not fully onboard with giving up on changing their party with pressure tactics.