Has there ever been a successful primary challenge to a sitting president?

[NNN0LHI]

By the presidents own party that is. I don't think so. But I do not know for sure. I considered LBJ, but he chose not to run for a second term on his own. Thanks in advance if anyone knows of such a situation.

Don

[Snow]

1. Johnson chose not to run after McCarthy beat him in New Hampshire..

[0007]

5. Not true! Johnson beat McCarthy

Talk to people who've heard of Eugene McCarthy's showing in the 1968 New Hampshire primary and they'll often tell you that McCarthy beat Johnson. Not so. Actually, McCarthy earned 42% of the vote, against Johnson's 49%. But 42% was a strong enough showing that shortly after, LBJ announced his intention not to run.

[VolcanoJen]

8. Johnson indeed defeated McCarthy in New Hampshire, 1968

http://www.npg.si.edu/pubs/profile/spr00/upset.htm

Lyndon Baines Johnson: 49.5%
Eugene McCarthy: 42.5%

Backup Link:

http://www.politicallibrary.org/TallState/1968dem.html

Presidential Preference Votes Percentage

Lyndon Baines Johnson* 27,520 49.6%
Eugene McCarthy 21,263 41.4%

Until reading this thread, I was always under the impression that McCarthy won NH. The things you learn, hanging out at DU!

:D

But... you know, in the context of the thread-starting question, Buchanan came close to Bush I in '92, and Ted Kennedy came close in '80.

I still don't think it's ever been done, though. Great Thread!!

[Snow]

9. Well, shucks - I was there & forgot that - eddumicated again!

And I even remember watching 'the speech' on the tube. Coulda knocked me over with a feather....

[kskiska]

2. Well, this goes way back

but the Democratic Party refused to support a third Woodrow Wilson term. Of course, to be fair, Wilson had had a debilitating stroke and was bedridden. His wife was signing papers for him. I can't for the life of me figure out why they wanted to run him for a third term. He wasn't much better off than Reagan is now.

[mlawson]

3. For the same reason that reps would have run Ronnie in 1988:

they were sure he could have beaten Dukakis. At first, they didn't know that Poppy could.

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. I don't think it's happened recently

At one point, it looked like Reagan might come close to getting the nomination away from Ford in 1976.

[dsc]

6. Truman also ran in 52

until his poor showing in NH.

[Renew Deal]

7. I think there has been.

I just can't remember it. It's been a long while.

[Walt Starr]

10. Wasn't Arthur challenged

and lost?