American Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

American Politics - Essay Example In the election of 1964, Lyndon Johnson positioned himself against his GOP opponent, Barry Goldwater. Johnson campaign ran a commercial entitled the "Daisy Girl" ad, which featured a little girl picking petals from a daisy in a field, counting the petals, which then signal into a launch countdown and a nuclear explosion in response to Goldwaters advocacy of using tactical nuclear weapons to fight communism in Asia. Johnson defeated Goldwater in the general election, winning 64.9% of the popular vote, and this was noted to be the largest percentage differential since the 1824 election. (Wikipedia, 2007a) (Paraphrasing made). In addition to nuclear weapon issue to address communism, anther critical issue in the election was that on civil rights. Thus despite Johnson’s winning the election, loss of support in Southern states was evident and signified a reversal in electoral fortunes for Democrats who had depended on the "Solid South" as an electoral base. The issue of civil rights divided conservative southern whites from the rest of the party, the political coalition of labour unions, minorities, liberals, and southern whites (the New Deal Coalition. Lyndon Johnson appeared to have taken advantage the issue with the 1963 assassination of J.K. Kennedy, who was has supported Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Wikipedia, 2007a) (Paraphrasing made). Hence the 1965 Voting Rights Act had an immediate impact on federal, state and local elections, so that with its passage on August 6, 1965, one quarter of a million new black voters had been registered, one third by federal examiners and within four years, voter registration in the South had more than doubled. Hence its effect in voter turnout was manifested at 74% in 1965 resulting a number of black leaders elected and in 1969, where Tennessee had a 92.1% voter turnout, Arkansas 77.9% and Texas 77.3%. (Wikipedia, 2007a) (Paraphrasing