1972: Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D) vs. President Richard Nixon (R)

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Let's suppose in 1968, New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy does not embark on a Presidential run and consequently sits out the 1968 Presidential Election. Despite a vast base of support, Senator Kennedy opts to wait until 1972 to run for the White House.

Like in RL, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota ends up winning the 1968 Democratic Nomination, despite not campaigning actively for the nomination. The 1968 Presidential Election does result in a victory for the Republican ticket of Nixon/Agnew. Continuing with the statements along the lines of like in RL, the Nixon Presidency plays out the same.

Now this leads us to the all important question! How would the 1972 Presidential Election turn out if these were the tickets, nominated by the Republicans and Democrats respectively?

Democratic

Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York
Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana

Republican

President Richard M. Nixon of California
Vice President Spiro Agnew of Maryland

Discuss with maps.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Nixon wins 296-242

[HardRCafé]

I still don't entirely understand why everyone here makes Washington and Oregon reliably Democrat pre-Watergate.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

In my personal opinion this scenario could go one of two ways. And here's my predictions on how these two ways could have went:

The Best Case for Richard Nixon.....

Richard M. Nixon/Spiro Agnew (R): 314 EV
Robert F. Kennedy/Birch Bayh (D): 214 EV

The Best case for Robert Kennedy.........

Robert F. Kennedy/Birch Bayh (D): 298 EV
Richard Nixon/Spiro Agnew (R): 240 EV

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Publicly in 1972 Nixon was doing and saying all the right things.

Kennedy would have made it closer - but 1968 would have been the more RFK favourable matchup.

[Lincoln Republican]

Closer than against McGovern but Nixon still wins big.

Bayh does not bring in Indiana and Agnew does not bring in Maryland.

No Democrat, not even the much vaunted and over hyped Kennedy heir apparent, defeats Nixon in 1972. 

Nixon/Agnew               365
Kennedy/Bayh             173