1928: If Al Smith converts

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Let's imagine sometime earlier in his tenure as New York Governor Al Smith had renounced Catholicism and was formally received into some Protestant church. What does the map look like then?

Honestly probably not much different. He'd win the entire Solid South but that's about it.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Let's imagine sometime earlier in his tenure as New York Governor Al Smith had renounced Catholicism and was formally received into some Protestant church. What does the map look like then?

Honestly probably not much different. He'd win the entire Solid South but that's about it.

He'd also lose a good deal of support up north by Catholics (especially the Irish) who would see such a move as a slap in the face.  He would probably even lose enough support to not win Massachusetts or Rhode Island, as many would see his "conversion" purely as a means to get more appeal to bigoted protestants in an era where being Catholic was becoming more and more acceptable by mainstream society.  As far as many of the Catholics are concerned, especially the Irish, he might as well have announced that he was a Republican or that he thought that the British were right.  Pretty much, he would become the "Uncle Tom" of Catholics and other non-protestant ethnics.

To properly understand why a lot of Catholics were so reactionary against converts, you would have to know about the struggles they faced in a strongly Protestant society that was prejudiced against them.  But of course, dear Zachary, that would require you to read another source other than the Politically Incorrect Guide to the British Empire.  But don't worry though, for just five dollars more you can get this handy dandy book that will tell you all about it!

With the courtesy BRTD bashing out of the way, here's what I think the map would look like, assuming everything else is constant:

Never heard of it. Doubt I would like it considering how critical of the British Empire I have been. But I'm surprised you instead didn't say something like "Realize that historical converts from Catholicism are not comparable or the same thing as people from Catholic families in 21st century middle class Midwestern suburbia becoming hipster Christians or self-described atheists in the hardcore scene or whatever".

But anyway why doesn't he win North Carolina?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Also Mechaman in regards to this:

To properly understand why a lot of Catholics were so reactionary against converts, you would have to know about the struggles they faced in a strongly Protestant society that was prejudiced against them.

Isn't that just basically the same type of prejudice but in the opposite direction? Sounds like two wrongs to me, not an appropriate reaction.