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Show g The Daily Utah Chronicle, November 6, 1968 j Presidential Race: Neither Vietornus l W Sprio T. Agnew i WASHINGTON (AP)--Hubert H. Humphrey and Richard M. Nixon galloped toward a photo finish in popular vote totals today. But tabulation of Tuesday's balloting left in doubt whether either can pile up the 270 electoral votes to win the presidency outright. Democrat Humphrey and Republican Nixon ran neck and neck in a contest rivalling 1960's razor-edge finish when Nixon lost to the late John F. Kennedy. But the costly and turbulent campaign could wind up in an Electoral College stalemate, delaying choice of a president at least until the 538 electors picked Tuesday meet in state capitals Dec. 16--and possibly until the new Congress meets in January. Nixon Leads As the ballot counting progressed, Nixon had won states with 178 electoral votes. Humphrey was the victor in states with 161 electoral votes. Humphrey held inconclusive leads in four states with 68 electoral votes. Nixon had an equally slim advantage in five states with 86 electoral votes. The popular balloting contest looked this way: Humphrey 23,859,331, or 43 per cent; Nixon 23,988,513, or 43 per cent; Wallace 8,141,212 or 15 per cent. Tight Battles Tight battles in California, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri and a handful of smaller states held the key to the final outcome of the popular vote, if not the Electoral College winner. Nixon led in critical California, Illinois and Ohio, Humphrey was in front in Michigan and Missouri. Third party candidate George C. Wallace of Alabama collected a minimum of 39 electoral votes-exactly the number chalked up in 1948 by then Gov. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina when President Harry S. Truman won a clear electoral majority. Balance of Power The close battle between Nixon and Humphrey increased chances Wallace's electors might get the opportunity to make a winner of either the Republican or the Democrat. A stalemate in the Electoral College would send the election to the House, where Democrats retained mechanical control although Republicans inched up their strength. In a situation where each state would cast one vote, the Democrats were pointed toward control of more delegations. In the Senate, which would pick a vice president, Republicans tallied gains, but the Democrats were left with clear numerical control. In the governors contests that have little over-all national impact but offer the winning party grass roots power, Republicans increased their present majority of 26. Record Turnout WASHINGTON ( A P ) - -Americans poured from their homes in massive numbers today to settle the cliff-hanging race for the presidency between Richard M. Nixon and Hubert H. Humphrey-or to throw the battle into the House. Election oratory a fading echo, they rose from their beds early and stood in line for blocks in towns and cities across the land, undeterred in some areas by rain-swollen clouds overhead. North Carolina From North Carolina came reports of the "heaviest turnout in memory." From Columbus, Ga.: "There are crowds like we have never seen." In Mobile County, Ala., early voting appeared the heaviest in history. In the Kansas City area it was considerably heavier than usual. In Detroit, long lineups were the rule, although the actual vote was somewhat below 1964. Lines Form Eighty people were in line when the polls opened at 6:30 a.m. in a Columbus, Ohio, suburb. Cars were backed up for two miles at a Charlotte, N.C., precinct. These early-bird voters were casting their ballots in climax to one of the most topsy-turvy, dramatic presidential election campaigns in history. The pollsters had retreated from late summer and early autumn forecasts of a smashing victory for Nixon, the Republican candidate, to a virtual refusal to choose between him and Democrat Humphrey. Wallace Slipping George C. Wallace's third-party drive appeared to be slipping a gear or two toward the wire, but it carried still the dynamite of upset as well as the potential of denying either a majority of the electoral votes. In that event, the House, for the third time in history, would pick the president. The candidates, like the average voter, got out early. Humphrey and his wife Muriel folded paper ballots in the white frame township hall near their home in Waverly, Minn. An old pot-bellied stove heated the room, chasing early morning chill. "Oh, it's a secret," the Vice President joked when asked about his choice. Muskie Votes Humphrey's running mate, Sen. , Edmund S. Muskie, did away with guessing games. He said he and his wife Jane voted "straight Democratic" in the South Grammar School in his hometown, Waterville, Maine. Republican vice presidential -candidate Spiro T. Agnew, wife Judy, son Randy and daughter Susan voted in an Annapolis, Md., firehouse. Agnew, in a serious vein, said he was "looking forward to a victory but we'll be prepared to lose in case it doesn't come." Nixon Votes First Nixon beat all the candidates to the ballot box. Last, Thursday, in New York City for a televised rally, he filled in an absentee ballot in the living room of his Fifth Avenue apartment-just in case he couldn't get back to his adopted hometown r""n 1 1 1 1 " Mm i i ii i mmwi t j I 1 1 f ; . t ' i 1 : V " 1 ! 'P ,: - - ; I Edmund Muskie from California before the polls closed. Wallace was. to vote in early afternoon in Clayton, Ala., the rural community where he began the political career that led to his American Independent party (Continued on Page 7) (Cnued from Page 6) for the White House. 6 No- 2 man on the ticket, Je Air Force Chief of Staff )Co!;eMay' headed for ; at0 bewith Wallace after " suburban Los Angeles. hL W he voted e 'replied: "What do you No regularities Jusce Department said iJ reports by midday ;;ie f aty at the polls. "It's than in 1964," a nts election unit as ofC?; f fair wther ,Iljse J nation held the 3 voter mout he record 71 minion of ats ago. |