1968 United States presidential election in South Carolina
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 County Results
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| Elections in South Carolina |
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The 1968 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 5, 1968. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were part of the 1968 United States presidential election. South Carolina voters chose 8 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
For six decades up to 1950 South Carolina was a one-party state dominated by the Democratic Party. The Republican Party had been moribund due to the disfranchisement of blacks and the complete absence of other support bases as South Carolina completely lacked upland or German refugee whites opposed to secession.[1] Between 1900 and 1948, no Republican presidential candidate ever obtained more than seven percent of the total presidential vote[2] – a vote which in 1924 reached as low as 6.6 percent of the total voting-age population[3] (or approximately 15 percent of the voting-age white population).
48% of white voters supported Nixon, 41% supported Wallace, and 12% supported Humphrey.[4][5][6] South Carolina was the only Deep South state not to support Wallace in this election.
Campaign[edit]
Although Nixon ignored the other Deep South states because he knew that he had no chance of competing with George Wallace, in South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, believing Wallace could not win the election and that northeastern urban liberalism would continue to dominate if he endorsed Wallace, took the stump for Nixon in South Carolina.[7] The result was that Wallace's support in South Carolina plummeted rapidly, although in early September the Alabama governor predicted he would carry the state,[8] an opinion backed up by early polling in mid-September.[9] Other polls, however, had the race very close between the three candidates.[10]
Nixon himself campaigned in the state, aided by Thurmond, at the end of September.[11]
Predictions[edit]
The following newspapers gave these predictions about how South Carolina would vote in the 1968 presidential election:
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Special to The New York Times[12] | Tilt I (flip) | September 8, 1968 |
| Lebanon Daily News[13] | Lean I (flip) | September 17, 1968 |
| Daily Press[14] | Lean I (flip) | October 11, 1968 |
| The Charlotte News[15] | Lean I (flip) | October 12, 1968 |
| The Record[16] | Tilt I (flip) | October 21, 1968 |
| Shreveport Times[17] | Lean I (flip) | November 3, 1968 |
| The Selma Times-Journal[18] | Lean I (flip) | November 3, 1968 |
| The New York Times[19] | Tossup | November 4, 1968 |
Results[edit]
| 1968 United States presidential election in South Carolina[20][21] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes | |
| Republican | Richard Nixon | 254,062 | 38.09% | 8 | |
| Independent | George Wallace | 215,430 | 32.30% | 0 | |
| Democratic | Hubert Humphrey | 197,486 | 29.61% | 0 | |
| Write-ins | Various candidates | 4 | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Totals | 666,978 | 100.00% | 8 | ||
| Voter turnout | - | ||||
Results by county[edit]
| County | Richard Nixon Republican |
George Wallace American Independent |
Hubert Humphrey Democratic |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Abbeville | 1,213 | 20.77% | 3,201 | 54.82% | 1,425 | 24.40% | -1,776[b] | -30.42% | 5,839 |
| Aiken | 12,264 | 44.76% | 8,815 | 32.17% | 6,319 | 23.06% | 3,449 | 12.59% | 27,398 |
| Allendale | 997 | 29.72% | 820 | 24.44% | 1,538 | 45.84% | -541[c] | -16.12% | 3,355 |
| Anderson | 5,661 | 24.33% | 12,384 | 53.23% | 5,218 | 22.43% | -6,723 | -28.90% | 23,263 |
| Bamberg | 1,327 | 27.70% | 1,618 | 33.78% | 1,845 | 38.52% | 227[b] | 4.74% | 4,790 |
| Barnwell | 1,849 | 31.25% | 2,351 | 39.74% | 1,716 | 29.01% | -502 | -8.49% | 5,916 |
| Beaufort | 2,983 | 36.29% | 1,498 | 18.22% | 3,740 | 45.49% | -757[c] | -9.20% | 8,221 |
| Berkeley | 4,021 | 28.89% | 4,808 | 34.55% | 5,089 | 36.56% | 281[b] | 2.01% | 13,918 |
| Calhoun | 885 | 28.74% | 978 | 31.76% | 1,216 | 39.49% | 238[b] | 7.73% | 3,079 |
| Charleston | 24,282 | 43.45% | 13,255 | 23.72% | 18,343 | 32.83% | 5,939[c] | 10.62% | 55,880 |
| Cherokee | 2,853 | 27.19% | 5,642 | 53.77% | 1,998 | 19.04% | -2,789 | -26.58% | 10,493 |
| Chester | 2,862 | 33.71% | 2,762 | 32.54% | 2,865 | 33.75% | -3[c] | -0.04% | 8,489 |
| Chesterfield | 2,564 | 25.47% | 4,324 | 42.95% | 3,180 | 31.59% | -1,144[b] | -11.36% | 10,068 |
| Clarendon | 2,201 | 27.85% | 2,097 | 26.53% | 3,606 | 45.62% | -1,405[c] | -17.77% | 7,904 |
| Colleton | 2,824 | 34.67% | 2,670 | 32.78% | 2,651 | 32.55% | 154 | 1.89% | 8,145 |
| Darlington | 4,947 | 35.38% | 5,231 | 37.42% | 3,803 | 27.20% | -284 | -2.04% | 13,981 |
| Dillon | 2,396 | 35.73% | 2,132 | 31.79% | 2,178 | 32.48% | 218[c] | 3.25% | 6,706 |
| Dorchester | 3,354 | 31.21% | 3,539 | 32.93% | 3,855 | 35.87% | 316[b] | 2.94% | 10,748 |
| Edgefield | 1,688 | 43.07% | 1,006 | 25.67% | 1,225 | 31.26% | 463[c] | 11.81% | 3,919 |
| Fairfield | 1,619 | 27.14% | 1,336 | 22.39% | 3,011 | 50.47% | -1,392[c] | -23.33% | 5,966 |
| Florence | 8,917 | 36.19% | 7,642 | 31.02% | 8,079 | 32.79% | 838[c] | 3.40% | 24,638 |
| Georgetown | 3,269 | 32.62% | 2,642 | 26.36% | 4,110 | 41.01% | -841[c] | -8.39% | 10,021 |
| Greenville | 31,652 | 52.91% | 15,241 | 25.48% | 12,928 | 21.61% | 16,411 | 27.43% | 59,821 |
| Greenwood | 4,891 | 33.37% | 6,024 | 41.10% | 3,741 | 25.52% | -1,133 | -7.73% | 14,658[d] |
| Hampton | 1,671 | 31.95% | 1,452 | 27.76% | 2,107 | 40.29% | -436[c] | -8.34% | 5,230 |
| Horry | 3,924 | 26.97% | 6,701 | 46.06% | 3,924 | 26.97% | -2,777 | -19.09% | 14,549 |
| Jasper | 633 | 20.31% | 1,081 | 34.69% | 1,402 | 44.99% | 321[b] | 10.30% | 3,116 |
| Kershaw | 4,079 | 38.56% | 3,960 | 37.44% | 2,539 | 24.00% | 119 | 1.12% | 10,578 |
| Lancaster | 4,874 | 37.75% | 4,886 | 37.84% | 3,151 | 24.41% | -12 | -0.09% | 12,911 |
| Laurens | 4,813 | 39.75% | 4,279 | 35.34% | 3,016 | 24.91% | 534 | 4.41% | 12,108 |
| Lee | 1,219 | 22.23% | 2,113 | 38.54% | 2,151 | 39.23% | 38[b] | 0.69% | 5,483 |
| Lexington | 12,204 | 48.49% | 8,907 | 35.39% | 4,058 | 16.12% | 3,297 | 13.10% | 25,169 |
| Marion | 2,512 | 36.85% | 1,484 | 21.77% | 2,821 | 41.38% | -309[c] | -4.53% | 6,817 |
| Marlboro | 2,024 | 31.34% | 2,140 | 33.14% | 2,294 | 35.52% | 154[b] | 2.38% | 6,458 |
| McCormick | 466 | 21.08% | 757 | 34.24% | 988 | 44.69% | 231[b] | 10.45% | 2,211 |
| Newberry | 4,538 | 42.35% | 3,734 | 34.85% | 2,444 | 22.81% | 804 | 7.50% | 10,716 |
| Oconee | 2,618 | 27.94% | 4,742 | 50.61% | 2,009 | 21.44% | -2,124 | -22.67% | 9,369 |
| Orangeburg | 5,144 | 24.20% | 7,144 | 33.60% | 8,971 | 42.20% | 1,827[b] | 8.60% | 21,259 |
| Pickens | 6,873 | 51.63% | 4,424 | 33.23% | 2,016 | 15.14% | 2,449 | 18.40% | 13,313 |
| Richland | 26,215 | 50.96% | 7,030 | 13.67% | 18,198 | 35.37% | 8,017[c] | 15.59% | 51,445[d] |
| Saluda | 1,466 | 30.53% | 2,136 | 44.48% | 1,200 | 24.99% | -670 | -13.95% | 4,802 |
| Spartanburg | 18,183 | 38.69% | 17,346 | 36.91% | 11,467 | 24.40% | 837 | 1.78% | 46,996 |
| Sumter | 5,451 | 33.43% | 4,754 | 29.15% | 6,103 | 37.42% | -652[c] | -3.99% | 16,308 |
| Union | 3,011 | 30.50% | 4,590 | 46.50% | 2,271 | 23.00% | -1,579 | -16.00% | 9,872 |
| Williamsburg | 3,029 | 28.08% | 2,652 | 24.59% | 5,106 | 47.33% | -2,077[c] | -19.25% | 10,787 |
| York | 7,596 | 37.48% | 7,102 | 35.04% | 5,571 | 27.49% | 494 | 2.44% | 20,269 |
| Totals | 254,062 | 38.09% | 215,430 | 32.30% | 197,486 | 29.61% | 38,632 | 5.79% | 666,982 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic[edit]
- Allendale
- Bamberg
- Beaufort
- Berkeley
- Calhoun
- Chester
- Clarendon
- Dorchester
- Georgetown
- Hampton
- Jasper
- Lee
- McCormick
- Marion
- Orangeburg
- Sumter
- Williamsburg
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican[edit]
Counties that flipped from Democratic to American Independent[edit]
Counties that flipped from Republican to American Independent[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Although he was born in California and he served as a U.S. Senator from California, in 1968 Richard Nixon's official state of residence was New York, because he moved there to practice law after his defeat in the 1962 California gubernatorial election. During his first term as president, Nixon re-established his residency in California. Consequently, most reliable reference books list Nixon's home state as New York in the 1968 election and his home state as California in the 1972 (and 1960) election.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k In this county where Nixon ran third behind both Humphrey and Wallace, margin given is Wallace vote minus Humphrey vote and percentage margin Wallace percentage minus Humphrey percentage.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o In this county where Wallace ran third behind both Nixon and Humphrey, margin given is Humphrey vote minus Nixon vote and percentage margin Humphrey percentage minus Nixon percentage.
- ^ a b Two write-in votes were recorded from this county.
References[edit]
- ^ Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 208, 210 ISBN 9780691163246
- ^ Mickey, Robert; Paths Out of Dixie: The Democratization of Authoritarian Enclaves in America's Deep South, 1944-1972, p. 440 ISBN 0691149631
- ^ Mickey; Paths Out of Dixie, p. 27
- ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 147.
- ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 295.
- ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 335.
- ^ Perlstein, Rick; Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America, pp. 344-345 ISBN 9780743243025
- ^ Rouse, Mike; ‘Wallace IS Appealing for Vote of the “Doves” as Well as Others’; Danville Register, September 3, 1968, p. 12
- ^ ‘Four Polls Place Nixon in Lead’; Marshfield News-Herald, September 16, 1968, p. 3
- ^ ‘Face-to-Face: Humphrey Desires Debate with Nixon’; Cumberland Evening-Times, September 16, 1968, p. 3
- ^ ‘Nixon Proposes Anti-Crime Council’; The Waco News-Tribune, September 30, 1968, p. 5
- ^ Rugaber, Walter (September 8, 1968). "Wallace and Nixon Vie in South; Conservatives Shun Humphrey: Ex-Alabama Governor Thought to Lead in 9 of 11 States of Old Confederacy, With Total of 91 Electoral Votes". The New York Times (Special to the New York Times ed.). p. 78.
- ^ "Politics…in County, State and Nation". Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. September 17, 1968. p. 4.
- ^ Murray, David. "Wallace Might Take 6 Southern States". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 51.
- ^ "In South It's Nixon vs. Wallace". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. October 12, 1968. pp. 1, 3.
- ^ "Nixon Leads in 26 States: Wallace Will Run Strong: AP". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. Associated Press. October 21, 1968. p. 3.
- ^ Broder, David S. (November 3, 1968). "After Hoopla Finished, Nixon Still Winning, Survey Shows". Shreveport Times. p. 4-B.
- ^ "Summary of 50 States on Coming Election". The Selma Times-Journal. Selma, Alabama. November 3, 1968. p. 5.
- ^ Weaver jr., Warren (November 4, 1968). "Nixon Holds Lead Over Humphrey in Late Survey: Contest Tightens — G. O. P. Nominee Put Ahead in 30 States and His Rival in 8". The New York Times. pp. 1, 36.
- ^ "1968 Presidential General Election Results – South Carolina". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ Woolley, John; Peters, Gehard. "1968 Presidential Election". The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
Works cited[edit]
- Black, Earl; Black, Merle (1992). The Vital South: How Presidents Are Elected. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674941306.
