Eisenhower was going to win regardless of which party he ran under.
Not unless Ike ran as a Democrat. Kefauver likely makes it closer but while the GOP had little long term credibility due to the depression people were sick and tired of Dem rule after 20 years.
If Ike ran as a Dem, then the 1950's would probably be another Era of Good Feelings and Hoover the last GOP president. Northern Dems would eventually split off as their own party. IDK if they would call themselves progressives, but the platform would be similar to that.
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