A candidate who hopes to gain the nomination of his party for a certain office. Political memorabilia supporting such candidates are referred to as hopeful items. For example, items supporting Robert F. Kennedy or Eugene McCarthy for President (dating from 1968) are hopeful items, since Kennedy was assassinated before the Democratic convention and McCarthy lost the nomination to Hubert Humphrey. Some candidates are hopefuls one year and major party candidates another year. For example, Humphrey was a hopeful in 1960 and in 1972, but was a major party nominee in 1968.