In 1964, Johnson defeated Goldwater by a landslide. Johnson was supported by 45 states, which accounted for 486 electoral votes, in the win over Goldwater. Goldwater was supported by 5 states, which accounted for only 52 electoral votes. Not only did Johnson win most of the electoral votes, he also won 64 percent of the popular vote. Goldwater did manage to get 36 percent of the popular vote. There were no other major candidates that had an impact on the election. Johnson, a Democrat, happened to be the vice-president. The incumbent was already in the position, because the economy was doing so well, to win the election. Goldwater, at the time of the election, was a Senator from Arizona
At the time of the election, the economy was in an expansion. The last contraction that happened prior to the election of 1964 was about 33 months prior or roughly 1961-quarter I. Real GDP had grown, roughly, 18 percent since the last contraction. Unemployment was in the range of 5 to 6 percent and inflation was in the range of 2 to 3 percent. Unemployment and inflation seemed to be falling at a slow pace. Since there were not any outstanding macroeconomic issues, the election turned on issues that the candidates addressed. The election of 1964 was the first election since 1932 that was fought over true issues, and “which brought ideology into Americans politics.”