The U.S. presidential election of 1964 was the 45th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 3, 1964. The Democratic candidate and incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had come to office less than a year earlier following the assassination of his predecessor John F. Kennedy. His opponent, the Republican candidate, Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, suffered from a lack of support from his own party. He held deeply unpopular political positions.

Johnson’s campaign advocated a series of anti-poverty programs collectively known as the Great Society, and successfully portrayed Goldwater, as being a dangerous extremist. Goldwater after receiving much criticism from the media and all the opposition saying he had extremist views, used the slogan: "In your heart you know he's right!" A slogan he used to directly combat his negative publicity. He tried to make the point that his political and social views were not that different from most ordinary Americans.

The LBJ team in response used: "In your guts, you know he's nuts!" and "In your heart, he's too far right!" as alternatives to the Goldwater ad threat.

In the end, when all the campaign efforts were finished, Johnson easily won the U.S. Presidency, carrying 44 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, which voted for the first time in this election.

More Info: chrishallamworldview.wordpress.com