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Perhaps most of all, they have been unable to coalesce behind a single available alternative candidate. Rockefeller, once by far the Republican front runner, probably sacrificed his chances with his remarriage (one school of thought insists that the birth of his son, Nelson Aldrich Jr., just three days before the California primary worked to his disadvantage, reminding voters of his recent marital situation). There has been little enthusiasm for Richard Nixon since he turned out to be a poor loser in the 1962 California gubernatorial race. Despite Cabot Lodge's strong showings in primaries and polls, he is unpopular with many Republicans who feel that he is, in unlikely combination, too aloof and patrician and liberal; indeed, the main effect of Lodge's New Hampshire primary victory this year probably was to divert and delay any concerted effort that anti-Goldwater Republicans might have mounted.
"It's Very Late." By process of elimination, that leaves Pennsylvania's Governor William Scranton as the best remaining hope for anti-Goldwater Republicans. Until last week, Scranton was genuinely unwilling to make a move. For months he insisted that he did not want the nomination, would not seek it, and would only reluctantly accept a genuine draft. Despite Scranton's repeated statements, it was behind him that anti-Goldwater Republican leaders late last week tried to rally—and Scranton showed signs of acquiescence. On Saturday, Dwight Eisenhower asked Scranton to visit him in Gettysburg. Ike urged Scranton to begin taking a "positive" view about the Republican nomination, and Scranton indicated that he would do so. Almost immediately the word was passed by Ohio's Governor Rhodes, attending the National Conference of Governors in Cleveland, that Scranton was willing.
But even if all the Republican leaders who oppose Goldwater were to gather around Scranton, would they be able to stop Barry's bandwagon? There is deep doubt that they could. "It would take a superhuman effort," says Maine's Fred Scribner, general counsel to the Republican National Committee. Says General Lucius Clay, an authentic Republican kingmaker: "It's late, very late."
If such an attempt were to be made, it would, if successful, leave the Republican Party in a deeply divided state. Barry Goldwater himself would undoubtedly support Scranton or any other nominee; he has made party loyalty his gospel. But his dedicated followers have gone too far and worked too hard to accept an eleventh-hour defeat. Thus, as the situation stood last week, the G.O.P.'s probable course was to accept Goldwater, rally behind him, and work to influence him toward mainstream positions.