1948 Presidential Election

[PPT Spiral]

Although President Sinclair got his wish and was nominated again at his party's convention, he faced stiffer opposition than expected. His main adversary, Henry Wallace, got around 30% of the vote, which was a surprise for those who considered Wallace washed up and old news by this point. Sinclair would face the most trouble with the left flank of his party, upset that he had not accomplished nearly as much domestically as they originally envisioned when he was nominated four years earlier. On the vice presidential ballot, black union leader A. Phillip Randolph was nominated. Randolph had been a rising star on issues related to labor and civil rights, and he was seen as someone who would complement Sinclair's agenda for a second term. Randolph becoming Sinclair's running mate would infuriate the Southern delegates, who walked out of the convention thereafter. Meanwhile, Robert Taft got a chance at redemption once he secured the AU nomination, winning a little over 50% on the first ballot and benefiting from split opposition. General Douglas MacArthur, widely respected across the board, became Taft's running mate. MacArthur would turn out to have decidedly more liberal views than Taft as the convention went on, but the ticket was seen as being well-rounded and capable of uniting the party's factions.

Sinclair and Taft have been paired up to face off once more in an anticipated rematch. Now, the nation has turned away from focusing on the rest of the world and is concentrated on domestic issues. President Sinclair has been reminding voters of his success in bringing World War II to an end and squashing the Axis powers along the way, but he has also promised a robustly progressive agenda for his next four years. Among the items on his to-do list include comprehensive universal healthcare, an expansion of public education, national desegregation, and other such matters. Taft is running against the expansion of the welfare state, opposed to many of Sinclair's proposals. He has, however, pledged to push forward a bill on expanding public housing. Taft is also skeptical of entangling alliances abroad, wishing for the country to stay out of any imminent wars and to review its role in the United Nations. Henry Wallace, emboldened by his showing in the WP convention, is running a third-party campaign on the newly formed American Labor Party. Wallace is running on many of the same planks as Sinclair but is coming off as more aggressive in his support, particularly trying to outperform the president on matters of civil rights. Strom Thurmond knew he was going to also jump ship as soon as Randolph became Sinclair's running mate, already having been tempted with the desegregation of the military. On the States' Rights Party, Thurmond is running on a forcefully segregationist platform, mainly campaigning in the South and warning voters of further advances from the federal government.

[ElectionsGuy]

Taft/MacArthur

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Taft, easily.

[Cassius]

Taft/MacArthur

[Goldwater]

Why do you people keep nominating Taft!? Anyway, I"ll vote for him...

[Cory]

Sinclair/Randolph

[MadmanMotley]

Who voted for Strom Thurmond?

[PPT Spiral]

Who voted for Strom Thurmond?

Likely our resident trolls

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Taft/MacArthur

[New_Conservative]

Taft/MacArthur

[Cranberry]

Sinclair/Randolph

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Err...MacArthur was executed for treason (I believe it was before 1920) after he became the most prominent General in the Southern army during the second Civil War

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Yes, the damn fool is rotting in an unmarked grave somewhere in Alabama.

Anyway, I find it hard to believe that anyone could push more for civil rights than an integrated ticket. Sinclair/Randolph!

[Cassius]

Err...MacArthur was executed for treason (I believe it was before 1920) after he became the most prominent General in the Southern army during the second Civil War

Ectoplasm MacArthur?

[PPT Spiral]

I forgot about MacArthur being killed off decades ago as I was writing this election. Rest assured, my dear readers, this will be cleared up. Somehow.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I forgot about MacArthur being killed off decades ago as I was writing this election. Rest assured, my dear readers, this will be cleared up. Somehow.

Douglas MacArthur Jr?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Arthur MacArthur IV, who instead of becoming a pianist followed his father's footsteps into the military?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Arthur MacArthur IV, who instead of becoming a pianist followed his father's footsteps into the military?

Ten-year old presidential candidates aren't super common, but I guess it could work.

[PPT Spiral]

Aaaaand Taft has been elected by a soul-crushing margin. The ramifications of this election will need some time to be calculated.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Arthur MacArthur IV, who instead of becoming a pianist followed his father's footsteps into the military?

Ten-year old presidential candidates aren't super common, but I guess it could work.

If we can elect right-wingers in the Depression era, we can elect a baby.

[Bigby]

Voted for Taft even though I voted for Warren in the primary.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Looking at the final results, how on earth did Thurmond beat Wallace? As Spiral said, trolling?

[PPT Spiral]

Looking at the final results, how on earth did Thurmond beat Wallace? As Spiral said, trolling?

Unless we have four segregationists running around, that would have to be the case. At least it makes sense for Thurmond to get more support than Wallace overall, though. He sweeps the South overwhelmingly, which boosts his vote count.