Why did Thurmond do so poorly in Georgia in 1948?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I believe the Georgia machine was behind Truman.

Yup.  Russell supported Truman that year; had he supported Thurmond, Strom would've won.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Thurmond won severeal southern states so eaisly because in most of them he was the only on the ballot, as official Democratic nominee

He was only the official nominee, I believe, in South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi; Truman was kept off the ballot entirely in Alabama.  In every other Southern state, he had to compete with Truman, which is why he only received 49% of the vote in Louisiana, and under 20% in every other Southern state.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Atlas only has Thurmond on the Democratic ballot line in MS and AL. In SC, LA he was on the States' Rights line.

Thanks for the correction.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Incidentally, Dewey performed amazingly well in Alabama.

Not really.  He only got 19%; he got 18% in 1944.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Incidentally, Dewey performed amazingly well in Alabama.

Not really.  He only got 19%; he got 18% in 1944.

I meant that in comparison to neighboring states. Hoover very nearly won Alabama, for that matter.

He actually did poorly; only in MS did he get under 17% of the vote, and did better in FL and TN, while basically tying in GA.