Could Segregationists Have Built A Sucessful Third Party?

[mot78]

Had it not been for Nixon's 1972 "Southern Strategy" it seems unlikely that either party would have attracted support from segregationists. If Nixon decided against the strategy, could southerners have built another thrid party, like Thurmond or Wallace?

[Maple]

1. Well it was a little late for it

Earlier they could have. But by the 70's it would have been a short-lived effort I would think.

[rwenos]

2. Remember 1968?!

In view of the fact that Wallace DID form a segregationist party in 1968, and carried a few southern states (thus likely costing Humphrey the election and electing Nixon president), your question is based on a wrong premise. I think Wallace got about 15 electoral votes.

The "Southern Strategy" was Nixon's winner in 1968, despite Wallace's American Independent Party run. Kevin Starr (yes, that Kevin Starr, moderate Pubbie gadfly) was the architect of the "Southern Strategy."

[mot78]

3. Sorry, I forgot

I thought Nixon used the Southern Strategy because he was afraid of someone like Wallace costing him votes in 1972.

[Jim Sagle]

4. Kevin Phillips, actually.

Note that he was considered an extreme (social) conservative at the time. Now he's almost been read out of the Republican Party.