Kennedy fought it out with McCarthy in the primaries , as Humphrey used favorite son stand-ins to help him win delegates to the Democratic National Convention . Kennedy was assassinated , leaving Humphrey as McCarthy 's main challenger . But Humphrey 's organization was too strong for McCarthy to overcome , and his anti-war campaign was split after the late entrance of Senator George McGovern of South Dakota just ahead of the Democratic National Convention . Despite winning the popular vote , McCarthy lost to Humphrey at the convention amidst protests and riots
Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
Eugene McCarthy 1968 presidential campaign