June 2, 1970:

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Brewer's "Full Time" slogan was a dig at Wallace's White House ambitions.

In a Democratic primary runoff closely watched by the Nixon White House, former Gov. George Wallace, who ran for president as an independent in 1968, wins back his old job as governor of Alabama. (There is no Republican candidate.)

Wallace defeats his one-time protege, incumbent Albert Brewer, who became governor in '68 following the death of Wallace's wife Lurleen. (She was elected governor in 1966 as a stand-in for her husband, who was term-limited.) George Wallace's margin over Brewer is about three percentage points.

Back in May, Brewer led Wallace by about 12,000 votes, but neither candidate received a majority, which forced the runoff.

The Nixon administration is thought to be worried over another Wallace presidential bid in 1972, fearing he could win the Southern states that Nixon was counting on.

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categories: Today In Campaign History

9:33 - June 2, 2009