Had Zangara taken out FDR, could the Republicans have won in 1936 against a Democratic Party split between the more conservative John Nance Garner and a potential Populist Candidate put forward via the union party?
No, the economy would have rebounded by 1936 somewhat even if the new deal didn't happen. And it's too easy to attack Republicans as the party which caused the depression. As long as the incumbent president gets credit for a recovering economy it's pretty hard for him to lose.Had Zangara taken out FDR, could the Republicans have won in 1936 against a Democratic Party split between the more conservative John Nance Garner and a potential Populist Candidate put forward via the union party?