Why did FDR lose support in 1944?

[Sir Mohamed]

Why did FDR lose support in 1944 (compared to 1940)?

Because of these facts, I would suspect the opposite to happen:

- first, and most important, WW2 was in its closing stage as of November 1944. The president led the nation through the war and now to ultimate victory.

- the economy was finally in a good shape

- Wendell Willkie had been a stronger campaigner than Tom Dewey.

- the unwritten law not to serve more than two terms was already broken.

[Sir Mohamed]

Also 1936 was the kind of landslide that is pretty rare for a presidential election, so it's not surprising that FDR lost some support in 1940 and 1944.  Plus, some voter fatigue would be expected for any four-term President, even for FDR.

And yeah, Dewey was a better candidate for the Republicans than Wilkie. He (rather infamously) came pretty close to beating Truman in 1948.

I'm sure had he lived, Willkie would have won in 1948 over Truman.