A different kind of decoy

In the 1972 Democratic primary, the Dan Walker gubernatorial campaign fielded candidates for Presidential convention Delegate (Delegate election was not tied to the Presidential primary back then), opposing the Machine slates, some of which included incumbent Ward Committeemen and others important to local ward organizations.

The folks recruited by Walker were pledged to front runner Ed Muskie in White districts and to Ted Kennedy (who was not a candidate) in Black districts, because those were the candidates thought to be most popular in those areas and for whom voters would turn out. (In both cases, most Delegate candidates really favored George McGovern, the eventual party nominee).

Almost all of them lost, but their presence on the ballot generated additional voter interest, generated anti-Machine votes, and forced precinct captains to expend more energy on those offices and less on others – like Governor.