So comparing 1944 - 1948 - 1952 in Philly, 1948 stands out as oddly and exceptionally Republican.
Can anyone look at wards, precincts, etc.? Was Henry Wallace much of a factor? (Doesn't look like it). How did Black areas, Catholic areas, Jewish areas, etc. vote? I have read that nationally Jewish vote went 75-10 for Truman and the Black vote over 80% for Truman; was Philly different?
For what it's worth, the opposite happened in Boston: Truman received 70% in Suffolk County, several points higher than FDR in 1944 or Stevenson in 1952.
Was it as simple as a Phillies - Cardinals tiff? Recall that Boston-area voters, in 1986, may have expressed their frustration over their World Series loss by voting against the state's seat belt law: Question 5 to retain the seat belt law lost with 53.7% No votes, with every Boston-area county voting No and most outstate counties voting Yes.
I looked at the data for Question 5 and the results aren't particularly anomalous. Western Mass always votes that way and Barnstable has a granola streak from time to time.
