1976 United States presidential election: Difference between revisions

Although initially the front runner, former President and incumbent Vice President George McGovern soon saw his popularity evaporate amongst the core Progressive voter base as he became too connected with the Republican administration of Bob Dole. McGovern was also forced to defend some of his Republican cabinet colleagues from corruption charges on the news, which led to him gaining the distrust of Progressive party officials. McGovern dropped out of the race on May 29, siting a lack of support.

With the 1976 Progressive National Convention deadlocked between Jimmy Carter, Scoop Jackson and Mo Udall, Jackson and Udall supported endorsing a compromise candidate to stop Carter (who had a substantial plurality of delegates) from winning the nomination. With the convention gridlocked, Jackson and Udall both agreed to either endorse MassachusettsMinnesota Senator EdwardWalter KennedyMondale or Cuba Governor Fidel Castro as the Progressive nominee. KennedyMondale refused to be nominated and so Udall and Jackson both withdrew from the race and endorsed their delegates to back Castro as a unity candidate. Castro finally defeated Carter on the 17th ballot despite not actively seeking the nomination.

ToIn preventorder histo opponentsecure his fromendorsement runningand asunite anthe independentparty, Castro offered Carter the running mate slot on the Progressive ticket, which he reluctantly accepted.