I suppose McGovern running a terrible campaign and having poor judgement are significant factors here?
For one, I recollect a case where he gave a televised speech way too early in the morning for voters to care, and he only learned that his running mate underwent electroshock therapy for his depression problems shortly after being nominated. (The fact he previously vowed to back Eagleton "1000 percent" before dropping him only showed how much of a no-win bind he was caught in, I'm guessing.)
How does the electoral map probably look, do you think? Given how polarized the country is now, I honestly feel like Taft would be lucky to win anywhere over forty states (much less all fifty). But, then again, maybe he could basically portray himself as "Trump, but more dignified and principled", even if he doesn't mention or talk about him much. (The Democrats and media will still haggle him on that, though, and he'd best have a response ready if he wants to win over a critical mass of both Independents and MAGA voters.)