Strom has big brass balls, but he isn't stupid. It would be political suicide to run against the most popular man in America. I can see Harry Byrd doing it, because, while smart, he isn't up for election in 52. Also worth noting is that OTL Strom endorsed Ike. Which is why he lost the senate seat that year.
I see this as a possibility:
Dwight Eisenhower / Harry F. Byrd (or perhaps JFK) (D): 52.7% PV; 282 EV
Douglas MacArthur / Robert Taft (or Vandenburg, perhaps Stassen) (R): 46.4% PV; 249 EV
My reasons for such a close election are these:
Firstly, Mac wins the nomination because the establishment believes he's the only way to win; one war hero against another. Furthermore, Big Mac wasn't as timid or cocky as Dewey. He would be out there campaigning day and night, and not just "Our rivers are full of fish", "The future lies ahead", "You cannot have liberty without freedom" and "Agriculture is important." He would also take Ike head-on, something Dewey would never dare attempt. There would be many debates, or Mac would be lincoln-style stalking Ike's campaign everywhere he went, refuting his pspeeches, until Ike agreed to debate. There were a lot of things that could go right for Mac in a debate, and he'd probably wipe the floor with Ike. But Harry S. would also be out campaigning for Eisenhower. Honestly, I can see this election going either way, and it's likely that there will even be a GOP Congress come 1949. And finally, Ike wasn't the aggressive grassroots populist campaigner Truman was.
Finally, Ike chooses Byrd for regional and ideological balance.