1952: Kefauver vs Taft, a battle of the runner-ups

[Mr. Smith]

If the two runners didn't allow themselves to be drafted in, the contest would've gone to Robert Taft of Ohio and Estes Kefauver of Tennessee.

Discuss with maps

[President Johnson]

There was a conservative mood after 20 years of Democratic administrations. The unpopularity of President Truman also helps Taft to win the election.

Taft picks a moderate running mate to balance his ticket. Perhaps Richard Nixon. Then Nixon becomes president in August 1953, after Taft died. Nixon then moves on to win in 1956, while JFK is his succesor in 1961.

However, Taft wins by closer margin than Eisenhower.

Senator Robert Taft/Senator Richard Nixon: 305 EV. 51.6%
Senator Estes Keauver/Senator John Sparkman: 226 EV. 46.9%

[MATTROSE94]

Maybe something like this:

Senator Robert Taft (R-OH)/Governor Earl Warren (R-CA): 355 Electoral Votes
Senator Estes Kefauver (D-TN)/Governor Adlai Stevenson (D-IL): 157 Electoral Votes
Unpledged Electors: 19 Electoral Votes

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Sen. Kefauver's puts forward as VP former Ambassador and Commerce Secretary W. A. Harriman, for foreign policy and anti-Communist credibility and to make nice with Truman.  Kefauver's populist campaign strikes a moderate, vague tone on civil rights, and manages to avoid a significant segregationist Democrat desertion thanks to Kefauver being generally considered one of their own by Southerners - though Harriman is more outspoken on the issue.  The Republican's pick for VP is New Jersey Governor Alfred E. Driscoll, a man with a strong reputation for independence and a liberal in many ways, though something of a conservative on issues of federalism. Senator Taft as the nominee represents a strong contrast to the interventionist foreign and domestic policies of an unpopular administration.

Sen. Robert Taft (R-OH) / Gov. Alfred E. Driscoll (R-NJ) 310 51.3%
Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-TN) / Fmr. Sec. of Commerce W. A. Harriman (D-NY) 221 47.9%