Why was California so important to win for RFK?
It was important because after victory in the California presidential primary would demonstrate to the Democratic Party that Kennedy was a strong candidate for the November election, but a loss in California could end his campaign. California was a tough three-way race between democratic candidates Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy and Kennedy. It was a “winner takes all” primary with all 174 California delegates pledged in support of the winning candidate.
basically, it was important because after victory in the California presidential primary would demonstrate to the Democratic Party that Kennedy was a strong candidate for the November election, but a loss in California could end his campaign. California was a tough three-way race between democratic candidates Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy and Kennedy. It was a “winner takes all” primary with all 174 California delegates pledged in support of the winning candidate.
He entered the already close race after other candidates. A victory in the California presidential primary would demonstrate to the Democratic Party that Kennedy was a strong candidate for the November election, but a loss in California could end his campaign. California was a tough three-way race between democratic candidates Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy, and Kennedy. It was a “winner takes all” primary with all 174 California delegates pledged in support of the winning candidate. On the day of the primary, June 4, 1968, Kennedy traveled to his California campaign headquarters at the Ambassador Hotel in downtown Los Angeles where he awaited the election returns. When the ballots were tallied, Kennedy won 46% of the vote, more than the other candidates, winning the California primary.
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