Reply #1: re: 1960 [View All]

Yes, the math still didn't work out for Nixon in 1960. He actually asked for recounts in at least two states, including Illinois and New Jersey, and the result was that he lost ground. This is recounted, among other places:

Michener, James. Report of the County Charman (New York: Random, 1961. 212-13).

Nixon's recount, in other words, backfired. He dropped it, especially when late-arriving results revealed JFK had carried Hawaii.

This phenomenon is best explained by what virtually every recount has ever shown between Democrats and Republicans: in a crunch,in a very close race, it is usually the Democrat that picks up some marginal ground as the result of a recount. This is why these close races can be so interesting to Democrats.

You may recall from 2000, for example, that W. kept threatening to request a "recount" in Wisconsin, as it was close. He never followed up on that or any other state but Florida. And Gore had started the recount ball rolling there.

That's because even the GOP knows this marginal pick-up of votes is going to the Democrat in those situations.