Nixon ran against a moderate/liberal Democrat in 1968 and a progressive in 1972

[Buzz cook]

9. Humphrey was Identified as pro-war.

Nixon ran on the idea that he would end the war.
Nixon also made back room deals to derail the Paris peace talks. That was seen as a failure of the Johnson/Humphrey administration. In fact it was treason and Nixon should have been arrested as soon as it was discovered. That may have been the start of letting republicans get away with criminal acts.

George McGovern was a war hero, Nixon was a desk jockey in the Navy. Yet McGovern was described as weak and Nixon as strong, McGo9vern as unpatriotic and Nixon as patriotic.
That was echoed in the 2000 election.

The 72 election was also the first big defection in the "Solid South" as Nixon's Southern strategy began to bear fruit and the assassination attempt on George Wallace caused disaffection in segregationist democrats.

By this time the anti-war movement was going strong and so was the backlash against war protesters. African American's were protesting, sometimes violently, and the media were being stenographers for police and government describing the incidents.

Union organizations left the democratic side at wholesale rates. George Meany the head of the AFL-CIO backed Nixon over McGovern, though there was no formal endorsement.

Nixon was a relatively popular president, tight up till he became a reviled pariah that had to resign.

McGovern faced a perfect storm that the Democratic part still has not recovered from.

Comparing 72 to 2020 is not valid.

Problems in 2020 are different than 72. Now we can break them down to, the media, voter suppression, and racism.

While the American media is the worst in the world, they are not as bad as they have been. A Clinton is not in the race and the media is not invested in attacking the democrats as much as there were when Bill, Al, or Hillary were candidates. There are elements in the media that are pro democrat now. That is in part thanks to Barack Obama.
Democrats still should fight media narratives, but it is a bit easier now.

Voter suppression is the second largest problem democrats have to face. With the partial end of the felon purge in Florida we can hope that other states will follow suit. But every state that uses that tactic needs serious legal challenges.

In spite of the increase in volume from the racist right, America is becoming a more pluralistic nation and the power of appealing to racial animus is aiming at a smaller target.

Oh and whoever gets the nomination they won't have to worry about a popular opponent.