McGovern specifically ran against "Big Labor" in the '72 primary. His strategy was very similar to the one Obama followed in '08; dismiss Labor (who in '72 supported Humphrey and in '08 often supported Clinton) in favor of attracting a coalition of young, affluent anti-war voters, independents and moderate Republicans (people Labor Leader George Meany at the time called "$20,000 a year men," ah, inflation!)

Like Obama, McGovern enjoyed especially strong support among more conservative Democrats in otherwise Republican states in the West, and like Obama's supporters, elitist McGovern Democrats today STILL dismiss working class anger at McGovern, based in his attacks on Labor, as really based in racism.

But, since Labor strongly supported Humphrey, a Democrat with perhaps the strongest, and longest, pro-civil rights record of anyone in the party -- a man more noted for his support of Civil Rights, in fact, than McGovern, that accusation has never made sense as anything other than a class based slur.

In '72, McGovern's strategy worked in the primary. But his feud with Labor discouraged Labor turnout in the general election (a much larger part of the electorate than today), young voters failed to show up, and Nixon and his "secret" plan to end the war won over independents and won back moderate Republicans. The election was a disaster, but the influence of McGovern's supporters and their disinterest in, if not actual animosity toward, Labor gained influence in the party and, as you note, has had a profound effect on policy over the years.

In 2008 Obama, the first black presidential candidate, enjoyed unprecedented turnout from minority voters and, in the general, was able to hold on to the support of independents and moderate Republicans -- making Labor support less important.

Could a white Democratic presidential candidate duplicate his success in the future? Will continuing betrayals of Labor and working class interests discourage minority middle class and working class voters -- who are more likely to belong to unions than whites?

1. Don't tax the rich
   
2. Don't tax the rich
   
3. Don't tax the rich
   
4. Don't even THINK about taxing the rich
   
5. Fight some wars.