1948: Pres. F.D. Roosevelt (D) vs. Ret. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower (R)

[President Johnson]

If FDR didn't die in 1945, served out his fourth term and decided to go for a final fifth term, how do you think he would have done against Dwight Eisenhower, had Republicans somehow recruited him as their candidate. Do Republicans finally succeed to unseat him?

Roosevelt's running mate is Truman again, you pick Ike's.

[Lord Admirale]

Eisenhower wins soundly.

[NewYorkExpress]

Even if Eisenhower felt he could win against FDR, I doubt he'd run against him.

It's more likely that someone like Douglas McArthur would be the Republican nominee, if they nominate a general. Otherwise, I'd guess Earl Warren or a second Thomas Dewey nomination.

[Sir Mohamed]

I agree, MacArthur would have been way more likely to challenge FDR. But if Eisenhower runs as GOP nominee, it's the race of FDR's life. Assuming he's able to campaign agressively, I believe he would narrowly have pulled it off. NY declides the election, FDR wins by 1-2 pts.



✓ President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY)/Vice President Harry S. Truman (D-MO): 282 EVs.; 50.8%
Ret. General Dwight Eisenhower (R-PA)/Senator Leverett Saltonstall (R-MA): 249 EVs.; 48.3%

[Agonized-Statism]

Sorry to pick at the premise here, but what reason would Eisenhower have to challenge Roosevelt? He only jumped in IIRC to stop Taft from winning in a McCarthy era environment where any Republican was thought to be favored. Internationalists like Eisenhower wouldn't be too intimidated by Taft in this alt-1948 political climate, assuming Roosevelt has an easier time herding the New Deal Coalition.

[Lord Admirale]

I agree, MacArthur would have been way more likely to challenge FDR. But if Eisenhower runs as GOP nominee, it's the race of FDR's life. Assuming he's able to campaign agressively, I believe he would narrowly have pulled it off. NY declides the election, FDR wins by 1-2 pts.



✓ President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY)/Vice President Harry S. Truman (D-MO): 282 EVs.; 50.8%
Ret. General Dwight Eisenhower (R-PA)/Senator Leverett Saltonstall (R-MA): 249 EVs.; 48.3%

I seriously do not see how Roosevelt could win against Eisenhower, considering how Winston Churchill, despite his personal popularity, still lost in 1945. The war hadn't been kind to Roosevelt especially. This is how he looked in 1932 versus 1945.
 


I don't think FDR would have the stamina to campaign enough, and his appearances would show just how much he had aged, not to mention it would be easy to attack him as a dictator now wanting a fifth term in peacetime.

[The Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ]

This wouldn't have happened for a myriad of reasons, but Ike wins.