Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironduke
I wouldn't consider Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, or Richard Nixon as Southerners.
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Matt,
Ford wasn't elected, but your point still stands.
I think that the author was trying to cheat by counting California in the 'southern half' of the nation and ignoring the fact that Bush Snr was about as Texan as me.
I also think that the author is over-egging the pudding a bit here. Nixon & Bush Jnr both won by a hair's breadth. I think it is reasonable to assume that at least one of Humphrey or Gore would have been re-elected. Suddenly the balance would tip dramatically.
Indeed, if you look at the really 'hopeless' Democratic candidates (McGovern, Kerry) each faced the difficult task of unseating a sitting President - something only done twice since WW2. I think both sides have fielded a number of poor candidates since 1960. Some became President.