1944: FDR v. Taft

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Democrats:
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (New York)
Senator Harry S. Truman (Missouri)

Republicans:
Senator Robert Taft (Ohio)
Governor Tom Dewey (New York)

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Franklin D. Roosevelt/Harry S. Truman (D): 421 EV, 55% of the PV
Robert A. Taft/Thomas E. Dewey (R): 110 EV, 45% of the PV

The best Mr. Republican could have done against incumbent President Roosevelt in the 1944 Presidential Election. Thanks to Taft's isolationist policies, even during the Second World War, Taft is able to swing Michigan into the Republican column, likewise with New Hampshire which swung in favour of the Republicans thanks to Governor Dewey.

Thus, incumbent President Roosevelt wins reelection in 1944, dies on April 12, 1945 and Vice President Harry S. Truman succeeds Roosevelt to become 33rd President of the United States in April 1945. And the rest of American History is the same as in RL.

[PBrunsel]

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 PV
Robert Taft/Thomas Dewey (R): 195 EV; 45.6% of the PV
Others (Socialist, Prohibition, etc.): 0 EV; 1.5% of the PV

In 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.

[jokerman]

I wouldn't call Dewey's campaign overrated, PBrunsel.  Despite his qualities as a statesman most historians recognized he ran awful Presidential campaigns.  Though actually, his 1944 campaign was arguably stronger than his '48 campaign, as Dewey actually delved into policy criticism.  The massive defeat incurred upon him was a testament to the great reverence towards FDR, but Dewey saw fault in his campaign and thus reverted into the "our rivers are full of fish" nonsense of '48.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

FDR wins, 397-134