1952 Democratic Brokered Convention (Politics, Politics Never Changes)

[Bigby]

Governor Kennedy failed gain enough delegates to earn the needed majority. No other candidate endorsed him either, but instead, Senator McCarran endorsed and pledged his delegates to Senator Reagan. The convention has become brokered, and the Reagan/McCarran camp and the Kennedy camp must choose between these last two candidates to decide who runs against Taft.

Kennedy is running to Reagan's left on overall economic policy. Despite Reagan's own less-than-mainstream views, he has promised to uphold the "key elements of the New Deal," such as Social Security and the TVA. Though Kennedy wants to reverse much of the Taft era reforms, Reagan has announced he will only repeal the reforms that are "hampering the average American worker." Reagan has called for new economic regulations, while Kennedy has stated he "prefers to go back to the tried and true old ways." Basically, Kennedy is running as the orthodox New Dealer and Reagan is running as a reformer "that wishes to guide America forward, not backward."

The more radical difference between the two is on foreign policy. During the primary season, the US-South Korean coalition finally broke down the fortress of Pyongyang on June 20th. On June 25th, North Korea surrendered. Though China had not been entered, the Chinese soon announced a surrender on the same day. General Dwight Eisenhower and State Secretary John Dulles are now brokering a peace agreement, one that will certainly bring a quick end to North Korea. Reagan has applauded the war effort, but has stated "we must fight wars smarter, even more quickly, and even more willingly" in the future. Kennedy, who wanted to return to the status quo ante in Korea, has been forced to change his opinion to avoid certain implications. Kennedy still calls for "a more cautious look at foreign policy," but some argue that "sounds like a Taft-lite position." As liberal as many Democrats are, it is still a very internationalist party when it comes to foreign policy.

Finally, there is the issue of running against Taft. Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver has been named by the Kennedy camp for Vice Presidential nominee; Reagan has compromised by agreeing to name Kefauver as his Vice President should he be nominated instead of Kennedy. Kennedy and Reagan, both being Irishmen, also plan to utilize the Irish, Italian, and overall white ethnic vote against Taft. Kennedy also plans to use his Catholicism against Taft, but Reagan, being a Protestant, can only utilize a cultural focus. However, that also means that Reagan does not need to worry about the same kind anti-Catholic fear that sunk the candidacy of Al Smith in 1928; Kennedy most definitely would. Finally, there is the issue of age vs youth. Though Kennedy has been in office as long as Reagan, he claims to be the more experienced candidate due to his age. Meanwhile, Reagan has fired up the youth in his favor by claiming that this is an ageist attack. Reagan has pointed out that they were both elected in 1950, and "he is both more experience AND more youthful." This reflects their campaign strategies. Kennedy aims for a traditional campaign while Reagan aims for a media-heavy, more energized type of campaigning. Reagan has also declared that, if nominee, he will do something with Taft never seen before: a televised national debate between the two candidates.

You have one vote as normal, and anyone may vote. As brokered conventions are lightning rounds, you have one day to vote. Choose wisely.

[Clark Kent]

Win one for the Gipper!

[Intell]

Kennedy.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Win one for the Gipper!

[Sumner 1868]

Kennedy is a terrible human being, but he gets my vote without hindsight.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Kennedy/Kefauver!

[Zioneer]

Dangit Republicans, stop invading our conventions. The Gipper should not win even in fantasy Democratic conventions.

[Bigby]

Dangit Republicans, stop invading our conventions. The Gipper should not win even in fantasy Democratic conventions.

A Republican Brokered Convention would be open to all as well since the primaries are open to all. And this Gipper won't necessarily act like the Gipper of OTL. We have to wait and see!

[Bigby]

(Okay, I've been writing the general election post for the past hour since Reagan has continued his wide lead at the convention. As Kennedy has not reasonably caught up since the past few hours, the convention is now over with Reagan victorious.)

Despite the nearly even distribution of support between the liberal and moderate camps during the primaries, at the convention, Reagan established support from moderate and conservative Democrats at the convention. Though Kennedy flaunted his financial backing, fears over his Catholic faith and ties to the mafia surfaced among delegates. Reagan did not actively utilize these fears, but they did passively play into his advantage. Reagan was chosen for the sake of consensus. Reagan, however, did utilize his youthful and charismatic demeanor to his favor, which only benefited him further. Despite the differences between Reagan and Kennedy, particularly on the New Deal, the California Senator kept his promise and declared his desire to name Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver as his VP nominee. Kefauver was nominated unanimously. Though not a standard New Deal Democrat, Reagan would run to the left of Taft simply by demanding certain programs of the New Deal being defended no matter what. Reagan also ramped up his own foreign policy hawkishness, criticizing Taft for "letting MacArthur speak for him on foreign policy since he was too scared to defend his own isolationist views." And so the Reagan/Kefauver ticket advances...