1968Despite Governor Nelson Rockefeller's touting among the media as the "obvious choice" for the Republican nomination, two grassroots campaigns were able to nab several primary victories from the well known Governor. Barry Goldwater, the only "true conservative" in the race, Rockefeller believed he had the nomination sewn up. However, George Romney, a former ally taking a bold stance against the war in Vietnam, announced in November 1967, upstaging what Rockefeller thought would be an easy primary sweep. With both the conservative Barry Goldwater and liberal George Romney utilizing volunteers and younger voters, Rockefeller was out-canvassed in several key primary states. Despite both Goldwater and Romney running very energetic campaigns, the favor eventually fell Romney's way, nabbing not only crucial primary victories, but also the delegations of important states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. As well, managing to be the only candidate on the ballot in California besides favorite son Robert Finch, helped Romney's campaign greatly. Romney went on to choose Governor Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland for Vice President. [as opposed to Hatfield, which is canon]
Green-Governor George Wilken Romney of MichiganRed-Senator Barry M. Goldwater of ArizonaBlue-Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New YorkYellow-Favorite Sons1972 Republican Party Presidential PrimariesEarly on, anti-war Republicans were begging either liberal Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield or conservative Ohio Senator Robert Taft Jr. to jump in the primary race, they would have to make do with Congressman Pete McCloskey of California. However, McCloskey would only make headlines with a narrow and unexpected victory in Massachusetts. The two major candidates instead were the Goldwater-backed Senator Ronald Reagan of California and Rockefeller-backed Governor Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland (Agnew had helped Rocky win the Maryland primary four years earlier). With Reagan taking the West easily, never the less, Agnew had the backing of both North-Eastern and Southern Republicans and was able to nab some very crucial mid-western primary states as well. In order to help in the South, Agnew chose Senator George H.W. Bush of Texas for Vice President.
Red-Governor Spiro T. Agew of MarylandBlue-Senator Ronald Wilson Reagan of CaliforniaGreen-Paul "Pete" McCloskey of California1976 Republican Party Presidential PrimariesWith President George Bush attempting to blaze a careful and moderate trail, with monetarist economics and a diplomacy-based yet hawkish foreign policy, he was bound to see challenges from both the left and the right. From the Right hailed Governor Meldrim Thompson Jr. of New Hampshire and from the Left came the long-awaited campaign of Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon. Running against Bush's actions in the war in Palestine, Hatfield was able to gain traction among North-Eastern liberals as well as moderate and libertarian Westerners. Thompson on the other hand performed well in the South and Rural Mid-West. Bush only barely managed to maintain enough control over his party to win re-nomination on the first ballot. In order to unite the party's conservative wing behind him, Bush chose Senator Ronald Reagan of California for Vice President.
Blue-President George H.W. Bush of TexasRed-Governor Meldrim Thompson Jr. of New HampshireGreen-Senator Mark Odom Hatfield of Oregon