Unfortunately for the Democrats, after nominating Ervin, here's what happens in the election.
President Geralf Ford of Michigan/Senator Bob Dole of Kansas 473
Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina/Senator Frank Church of Idaho 65
First of all, Ervin would not lost any Southern states. Second of all, he would never get nominated. He was 80 years old! He would get killed in every primary, and even if the nomination went to the convention, he would not get any support outside of the South.
You are completely missing Walter's point.
He proposed a Sam Ervin election scenario. He did not ask if Ervin
could win any primaries or if Ervin
could get nominated. He did not ask
if Ervin could get elected.
He asked what would happen
if Ervin were the nominee.
Everyone knows that would have been impossible, but this is a what-if to see what would happen
if he were the nominee.
Yes, precisely because of one of the reasons you stated, that Ervin was 80 years old, and as well because Ervin would not have been a viable candidate, he
would lose some southern states.
All he would win would be the deep south states I showed on my map. I stand by my map.