The Eagleton debacle did not help McGovern (nor did his making his acceptance speech in the early morning hours when most people were asleep) but I think McGovern probably would have lost 49 states even if he had picked Shriver to start with.
Dang, I’ve been wrongly saying that Susan Rice would have been the first VP nominee since 1940 to have not held major elective office...Somehow, I overlooked Shriver.
Eagleton of course was U.S. Senator.
By major I meant any federal or state office.
George H.W. Bush was a one term U.S. Congressman.