 Nixon entered 1968 as the front @-@ runner for the Republican nomination . However , polls suggested that in a head @-@ to @-@ head match up with incumbent President Lyndon Johnson , Nixon trailed 50 % to 41 % . Later in January , Nixon embarked on a tour of Texas , where he lampooned President Johnson 's State of the Union address , asking : " Can this nation afford to have four more years of Lyndon Johnson 's policies that have failed at home and abroad ? " At this time , reports suggested that Nixon would formally announce his bid in February . 
 Nixon<a href='been_done' title='1'><mark></mark></a> entered 1968 as the front @-@ runner for the Republican nomination . However , polls suggested that in a head @-@ to @-@ head match up with incumbent President Lyndon Johnson , Nixon<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> trailed 50 % to 41 % . Later in January , Nixon embarked on a tour of Texas , where he lampooned President Johnson <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>State of the Union address , asking : " Can this nation afford to have four more years of Lyndon Johnson <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>policies <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>have</mark></a> failed at home and abroad ? " At this time , reports suggested that Nixon would formally announce his bid in February . 
Nixon done entered 1968 as the front @-@ runner fir da Republican nomination . However , polls suggested that in a head @-@ to @-@ head match up wid incumbent President Lyndon Johnson , Nixon been trailed 50 % to 41 % . Later in January , Nixon embarked on a tour of Texas , where he lampooned President Johnson  State of tdaUnion address , asking : " Can this nation afford to have 4 more years of Lyndon Johnson  policies done failed at home and abroad ? " At dis time , reports suggested dat Nixon would formally announce his bid in February .