Reply #51: "Boweevils [sp] were Southern Democrats"?

[Aaaargh]

No, "boll weevils" meant rightwing Southern Democrats who did not follow the exodus of defection begun by Strom Thurmond to the Republican Party, but still tended to cross-over and vote with the Republicans. This term particularly became familiar during the Reagan era, though it may have also been used during the Nixon era.

Jimmy Carter was not by definition a left-liberal Democrat, but he was by no means a "boll weevil." I frankly don't remember the "go home, boll weevils!" chant you say took place at the convention in 1980, or the incident on the podium between Kennedy and Carter, though I watched the convention coverage on TV at the time. IMO, if these incidents took place, they did not have the impact you suggest. Kennedy gave up his bid and endorsed Carter in his speech on the 2nd night of the convention. Though Kennedy's 1980 campaign had been very flawed and hurt his standing with many, that convention speech is remembered as one of his best.

It's only a "foregone conclusion" that a nomination is secured when a candidate definitely has enough delegates to win the nomination. That was not the case on the opening night of the 1980 Democratic Convention. That's why there was deep division.

It also was not the case with the 1976 Republican Convention, though there was a strong likelihood that Ford would win. Even so, Reagan maneuvered to sway delegates by naming a vice-presidential pick without having been nominated (a misstep, because his pick was a moderate Republican and that appalled his hardcore supporters). But, again: Reagan came back and won the nomination and the presidency in 1980, and his admirers surely aren't sorry that he ran in '76.

As for Carter, it's worth remembering that, as governor of Georgia, he led the quixotic 'Stop McGovern' movement at the 1972 Democratic Convention. In fact, that was probably one of the first instances in which he drew significant national attention.