Senator Taft is always underestimated in his ability to bring out conservatives in both parties. In 1944, there was much discontent with Roosevelt seeking a fourth term, especially amongst conservatives in the Democratic Party. These men, led by Senator Pappy "Pass the Biscuits" O'Daniel of Texas, would have voted for Senator Taft. Taft would have run a campaign far different from the "Me Too" campaign of Thomas Dewey, the most overrated presidential candidate in history.
Franklin Roosevelt/Harry Truman (D): 336 EV; 52.9% of the PVRobert Taft/Thomas Dewey (R): 195 EV; 45.6% of the PVOthers (Socialist, Prohibition, etc.): 0 EV; 1.5% of the PVIn 1948. Taft wins the GOP nod to take on President Truman, and defeats the incumbent in an election focusing on balanced budgets and cleaning up corruption in the old New Deal regime.
