As the 1960s progressed , McCarthy emerged as a prominent opponent of President Johnson 's handling of the Vietnam War . After Robert Kennedy declined the request of a group of anti-war Democrats to challenge Johnson in the 1968 Democratic primaries , McCarthy entered the race on an anti-war platform . Though he was initially given little chance of winning , the Tet Offensive galvanized opposition to the war and McCarthy finished in a strong second place in the New Hampshire primary . After that primary election , Kennedy entered the race and Johnson announced that he would not seek re-election . McCarthy and Kennedy each won several primaries before Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968 . The 1968 Democratic National Convention chose Vice President Hubert Humphrey , Johnson 's preferred candidate , as its presidential nominee
assassinated
Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
Eugene McCarthy