In 1968 Nixon looked like a strong former vice president who'd sidestepped the frey of Vietnam since the campaign against Kennedy.

Nixon was seen as "wooden and unlikeable" (not a guy you'd want to have a beer with) in his run against Kennedy in 1960. By 1968 no one cared about his "wooden personality"...they just wanted someone with an entirely different direction and plan than the Johnson administration. Plus they sold Nixon as "The New Nixon: Tanned, Rested, and Ready."

Nixon was viable because he'd lost by the smallest margin (until the Gore/Bush election) in history. Many were now ready to try his solutions, and he'd already shown he could pick up almost enough votes against a popular Kennedy, who'd had a formidable machine at his disposal (the unions.) If the Bush Republican machine falls apart (the Religious Right base) it allows for a similar scenario.

Nixon was an incumbent VP who ran against a non-incumbent Kennedy in 1960 and lost by a narrow margin. His second run eight years later was against an incumbent VP, and Nixon won.

Nixon ran on the platform "Peace with Honor" because Americans were sick of the mess and mire Vietnam had become, and wanted someone to lead them out of the woods.

Anything Nixon could do, Gore can do better.

Especially with a dynamic running-mate this time like Clark (my choice) or one of our younger Democratic firebrands.