1952 Presidential Debate

[GeorgiaSenator]

Suppose there was a Debate in 52.  How well would have Ike done vs Stevenson?  What issues would have been on the table and what issues would each candidate have tried to bring up?

Don't forget the VP race too Nixon vs Sparkman.

Your thoughts?

[RogueBeaver]

Stevenson on style, Ike on content. Nixon curbstomps Sparkman, and it gets very trollish once the issues of Sparkman's wife being on his payroll and Checkers get brought up. Maybe even a "tap the water glass" moment like the D's '88 debate.

[hcallega]

Stevenson was actually ahead of his time stylistically. He was a witty and sharp speaker who understood his weaknesses and used them to his advantage. But, as RB inferred, he was not really all that sharp in a political sense. He didn't recognize the threat posed by the Soviet Union, and nothing in his domestic platform stood out. He was a safe candidate who would not be embarrassed by Ike. More importantly, he would keep the ship steady, not tilting the Democrats towards Southern Conservatism or liberalism.