In 1952, Republican nominee and military hero Dwight Eisenhower won the presidential election against Adlai Stevenson by a landslide margin. His personal popularity also allowed the GOP to do very well in the South for the time, winning several Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. Notably, he also polled unexpectedly well in the Deep Southern state of South Carolina, where he was endorsed by Democrat Governor James F. Byrnes. Eisenhower lost South Carolina to Stevenson by less than two percentage points on election day.
So my question is, what would be the effects, short-term and long-term, of Eisenhower winning South Carolina on 1952? Had it happened, it would have been the first time a Republican had won a state in the Deep South since Reconstruction. Would it affect future political campaign strategy by either the Republicans or Democrats?
So my question is, what would be the effects, short-term and long-term, of Eisenhower winning South Carolina on 1952? Had it happened, it would have been the first time a Republican had won a state in the Deep South since Reconstruction. Would it affect future political campaign strategy by either the Republicans or Democrats?