The main candidate that stands out is populist Tennessee Senator, Estes Kefauver, who had chaired a nationally-televised investigation of organized crime in 1951 and was known as a crusader against crime and corruption.
When it came to the primaries Kefauver, was in the lead. A good running mate for him would have been W. Averell Harriman, Former Governor of New York and Ambassador to both United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, his experience with foreign affairs would balance the ticket.
I doubt anyone would be able to beat, US General and President of Columbia University, Dwight D. Eisenhower, especially after 20 years of a Democratic presidency.
Eisenhower, was also seen as the best candidate to deal with Joseph Stalin, especially with Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union at a high level.
If Stalin was to die six months earlier than 5 March 1953, the US public may have felt differently.
But I personally believe that this ticket may be able to swing the closer states and not make the Republican victory a Landslide.
Such as:
Kefauver's home states of Tennessee, 0.27%
Harriman may be able to steal a few points away from Eisenhower, who had claimed New York as his home state.
Followed by:
Missouri, 1.56% and Rhode Island, 1.84%
This would leave Eisenhower with only 363 electoral votes to Kefauver's 168 and then 34 States carried to Kefauver's 13