Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-10975360-20131014124545/@comment-10975360-20131106182455

true, Roosevelt, Lafollette, and George Wallace's bids were essentially populist bids that existed entirely around their leader, with their respective parties collapsing after the election (with the exception of Hiram Johnson in CA).

Well i would argue that the new deal coalition did start to break up as early as 1952, but then came together - largely due to the backing of big city and union bosses - in 1960, people thought Goldwater was too extreme, hence lbj got over 60% of the vote - i dont think this was the ND coalition, after all most of the deep south did go for goldwater. In 1968 america essentially divided into the ultra conservative south (Wallace), the pro business conservative moderates (Nixon), and the liberals (Humphrey).

if the republicans nominate christie, as seems increasingly likely, i expect the far right will break away - maybe permanently - and the republicans will move back to the centre-right. Either that or they become extict as a serious political force.