Rob
Bob
Junior Chimp
Posts: 6,277
Political Matrix
E: -6.32, S: -9.39
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« on: January 13, 2005, 06:49:47 PM » |
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Smith definitely began the realignment process. He did well in the cities because he was a Catholic. But he also did fairly well-for a Democrat- in the Republican farm belt. Interestingly, in states like Iowa, Smith did better in rural areas than in the cities.
Many wheat farmers and ranchers abandoned their GOP loyalties in '28 due to the farm crisis of the period. Smith came within 10 points of carrying North Dakota, which LaFollette had almost carried in 1924. Many progressive Republicans that had voted for LaFollette switched to Smith, and had he been a Protestant, he would have done much better.
So yes, the Democratic realignment was actually begun by Smith, but it took the Depression for the GOP to lose.
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