Election 1944: Gallup Polls

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americavotes1944

1942

December 13
Democratic presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 11/19-24/42
Survey #284-K
Question #11a

Asked of Democrats: What is your opinion of the following men as Democratic presidential candidates for 1944?

Franklin Roosevelt?
Favorable 73%
Unfavorable 22%
No opinion 5%

Henry Wallace?
Favorable 50%
Unfavorable 22%
Not familiar 14%
No opinion 14%

Paul McNutt?
Favorable 26%
Unfavorable 31%
Not familiar 25%
No opinion 18%

James Byrnes?
Favorable 13%
Unfavorable 14%
Not familiar 57%
No opinion 16%

William Douglas?
Favorable 14%
Unfavorable 11%
Not familiar 57%
No opinion 18% 
Interviewing Date 11/19-24/42
Survey #284-K
Question #11b

Asked of Republicans: What is your opinion of the following men as Democratic presidential candidates for 1944?

Franklin Roosevelt?
Favorable 21%
Unfavorable 74%
No opinion 5%

Henry Wallace?
Favorable 20%
Unfavorable 57%
Not familiar 11%
No opinion 12%

Paul McNutt?
Favorable 16%
Unfavorable 52%
Not familiar 17%
No opinion 15%

James Byrnes?
Favorable 11%
Unfavorable 23%
Not familiar 51%
No opinion 15%

William Douglas?
Favorable 9%
Unfavorable 23%
Not familiar 52%
No opinion 16%

1943

January 15
Voting age 

Interviewing Date 10/29 – 11/3/42
Survey #282
Question #15

At the present time American citizens cannot vote until they become 21 years of age. Would you favor changing the law to allow men and women 18, 19, and 20 years old to vote?
Yes 39%
No 52%
Undecided 9%

By age

Yes No Undecided
21-29 years 41% 53% 6%
30-49 years 38% 52% 10%
50 years and older 37% 52% 11%
4 Likes
2

March 1
Franklin Roosevelt 

Interviewing Date 1/29 – 2/3/43
Survey #288-K
Question #8a

If the war is over and President Roosevelt runs for a fourth term next year, do you think you will vote for him or against him?
For 39%
Against 50%
Undecided 11% 
Interviewing Date 1/28 – 2/3/43
Survey #288-T
Question #8a

If the war is still going on and President Roosevelt runs for a fourth term next year, do you think you will vote for him or against him?
For 51%
Against 37%
Undecided 12% 
Interviewing Date 1/28 – 2/3/43
Survey #288-K
Question #8b

Those who had a definite opinion were asked: Do you think President Roosevelt will run for a fourth term next year?
Yes 60%
No 40%
3 Likes
3

March 8
Republican presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 2/5-10/43
Survey #289-K
Question #8

Asked of Republicans: Can you tell me your opinion of the following possible candidates for the Republican presidential nomination in 1944?

Thomas Dewey?
Favorable 69%
Unfavorable 13%
Unfamiliar, no opinion 18%

Wendell Willkie?
Favorable 49%
Unfavorable 43%
Unfamiliar, no opinion 8%

Harold Stassen?
Favorable 31%
Unfavorable 10%
Unfamiliar, no opinion 59%

John Bricker?
Favorable 25%
Unfavorable 10%
Unfamiliar, no opinion 65%

Leverett Saltonstall?
Favorable 15%
Unfavorable 9%
Unfamiliar, no opinion 76%
3 Likes
4

March 19
Democratic presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 2/5-10/43
Survey #289-K
Question #8a

Democrats were asked: Will you tell me what you think of Henry Wallace? Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of him?
Favorable 57%
Unfavorable 20%
No opinion 23%

By region

Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
East 61% 16% 23%
Midwest 54% 25% 21%
South 52% 22% 26%
West 59% 20% 21% 
Interviewing Date 2/5-10/43
Survey #289-K
Question #8b

Democrats were asked: Will you tell me what you think of William O. Douglas? Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of him?
Favorable 21%
Unfavorable 10%
No opinion 69%

By region

Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
East 25% 11% 64%
Midwest 20% 9% 71%
South 19% 11% 70%
West 19% 11% 70% 
Interviewing Date 2/5-10/43
Survey #289-K
Question #8c

Democrats were asked: Will you tell me what you think of Paul V. McNutt? Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of him?
Favorable 28%
Unfavorable 31%
No opinion 41%

By region

Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
East 29% 29% 42%
Midwest 32% 32% 36%
South 24% 32% 44%
West 20% 33% 47% 
Interviewing Date 2/5-10/43
Survey #289-K
Question #8d

Democrats were asked: Will you tell me what you think of James Byrnes? Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of him?
Favorable 19%
Unfavorable 12%
No opinion 69%

By region

Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
East 19% 13% 68%
Midwest 19% 11% 70%
South 25% 12% 63%
West 12% 12% 76%
3 Likes
5

April 9
Voting age 

Interviewing Date 3/26-31/43
Survey #292-K
Question #1

At present, American citizens cannot vote until they become 21 years of age. Would you favor changing the law to allow men and women 18, 19, and 20 years old to vote?
Favor 42%
Oppose 52%
No opinion 6%
1 Like
6

April 21
Party best for peace and prosperity 

Interviewing Date 4/8-13/43
Survey #293-K
Question #9a

After the war which party do you think is more likely to bring better times to the country, the Republicans or the Democrats?
Republicans 32%
Democrats 27%
Makes no difference 21%
No opinion 20% 
Interviewing Date 4/8-13/43
Survey #293-K
Question #9b

Which party do you think can handle the problems of peace better, the Republicans or the Democrats?
Republicans 20%
Democrats 32%
Makes no difference 33%
No opinion 15%
1 Like
7

April 24
Two term amendment 

Interviewing Date 4/8-13/43
Survey #293-K
Question #14

Would you favor adding an amendment to the Federal Constitution to prevent any President of the United States from serving a third term?
Favor 46%
Oppose 54%

By region

Favor Oppose
New England/Mid-Atlantic 41% 59%
East Central 52% 48%
West Central 58% 42%
South 42% 58%
Far West 42% 58%

By political affiliation

Favor Oppose
Democrats 28% 72%
Republicans 74% 26%
1 Like
8

May 1
Harold Stassen 

Interviewing Date 4/8-13/43
Survey #293-K
Question #15

Minnesota voters were asked: What kind of job would you say Governor Stassen is doing – outstanding, better than average, average, or poor?
Outstanding 45%
Better than average 12%
Average 34%
Poor 5%
No opinion 4% 
Interviewing Date 2/5-10/43
Survey #289-K
Question #8

Asked of Minnesota voters: Will you tell me what you think of Harold Stassen as presidential material for 1944? Is your opinion of him favorable or unfavorable?
Favorable 62%
Unfavorable 29%
No opinion 9%
9

May 12
Voter interest 

Special Survey

War plant workers were asked: Did you vote in 1942?
Yes 42%
No 58%

Of those who voted in 1942, 63% said they plan to vote Democratic in 1944. Of those who did not vote in 1942, 74% said they favor the Democrats for 1944.

10

May 16
Republican presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 4/29 – 5/4/43
Survey #294-K
Question #13a

Republicans were asked: Which one of these men would you prefer as the Republican candidate for President next year?
Dewey 38%
Willkie 28%
MacArthur 17%
Bricker 8%
Stassen 7%
Saltonstall 1%
Warren 1%
11

May 19
Democratic presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 4/29 – 5/4/43
Survey #294-K
Question #13b

Democrats were asked: Which one of these men would you prefer as the Democratic candidate for President next year?
Roosevelt 79%
Wallace 8%
Farley 5%
McNutt 4%
Douglas 2%
Byrnes 1%
Winant 1%
12

May 23
Presidential trial heat 

Interviewing Date 4/29 – 5/4/43
Survey #294-K
Question #14

Suppose Franklin Roosevelt and Henry Wallace were the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President in the election next year and Thomas Dewey and Douglas MacArthur were the Republican candidates for President and Vice President, which ticket would you vote for?
Roosevelt-Wallace 54%
Dewey-MacArthur 46%
No opinion 13%

By region

Roosevelt-Wallace Dewey-MacArthur
East 55% 45%
Midwest 47% 53%
South 75% 25%
West 50% 50%

By income

Roosevelt-Wallace Dewey-MacArthur
Upper and middle 46% 54%
Lower 62% 38%

By age

Roosevelt-Wallace Dewey-MacArthur
21-29 years 66% 34%
30-49 years 55% 45%
50 years and over 48% 52%
1 Like
13

June 7
Franklin Roosevelt 

Interviewing Date 5/14-19/43
Survey #295-K
Question #21

If the war is over and President Roosevelt runs for a fourth term next year, do you think you will vote for him or against him?
For 31%
Against 69% 
Interviewing Date 5/14-19/43
Survey #295-K
Question #20a

If the war is still going on and Roosevelt runs for a fourth term next year, do you think you will vote for him or against him?
For 56%
Against 44% 
Interviewing Date 5/14-19/43
Survey #295-K
Question #20b

If the war is not entirely over next year but looks as though it might be over soon, do you think you will vote for or against Roosevelt for a fourth term?
For 51%
Against 49%
14

June 27
Republican presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 6/4-9/43
Survey #296-K
Question #6a

Republicans were asked: Which one of these men would you prefer as the Republican candidate for President next year?
Dewey 37%
Willkie 28%
MacArthur 15%
Bricker 10%
Stassen 7%
Saltonstall 2%
Warren 1%
15

July 2
Democratic presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 6/4-9/43
Survey #296-K
Question #6b

Southern Democrats were asked: Which one of these men would you prefer as the Democratic candidate for President next year?
Roosevelt 80%
Byrnes 8%
Wallace 8%
Farley 3%
McNutt 2%
William Douglas 1%
16

July 3
Party best for businessmen and workers 

Interviewing Date 6/4-9/43
Survey #296-K
Question #9b

Do you think businessmen will be better off if the Republicans or the Democrats win the presidential election next year?

Views of businessmen outside South
Business better off under Republicans 78%
Business better off under Democrats 22%

Views of workers
Business better off under Republicans 59%
Business better off under Democrats 41% 
Interviewing Date 6/4-9/43
Survey #296-K
Question #9c

Do you think skilled and unskilled workers will be better off if the Republicans or the Democrats win the presidential election next year?

Views of businessmen outside South
Business better off under Republicans 49%
Business better off under Democrats 51%

Views of workers
Business better off under Republicans 27%
Business better off under Democrats 73%
17

July 14
Republican presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 6/24-29/43
Survey #297-K
Question #17

Which one of these men would you prefer as the Republican candidate for President next year?

New York Republicans only
Dewey 53%
Willkie 27%
MacArthur 8%
Bricker 5%
Stassen 4%
Saltonstall 2%
Warren 1%

Pennsylvania Republicans only
Dewey 38%
Willkie 33%
MacArthur 14%
Bricker 9%
Stassen 5%
Warren 1%
Saltonstall <1%

Illinois Republicans only
Dewey 41%
Willkie 19%
MacArthur 18%
Bricker 11%
Stassen 10%
Saltonstall 1%
Warren <1%
18

July 21
Republican presidential candidates 

Interviewing Date 6/24-29/43
Survey #297-K
Question #17

Which one of these men would you prefer as the Republican candidate for President in 1944?

Republicans
Dewey 39%
Willkie 28%
Bricker 15%
MacArthur 10%
Stassen 6%
Warren 1%
Saltonstall 1%

Republicans who say they might vote Democratic
Dewey 35%
Willkie 34%
Bricker 11%
MacArthur 9%
Stassen 8%
Warren 2%
Saltonstall 1%

Independents
Willkie 39%
Dewey 29%
MacArthur 17%
Stassen 6%
Bricker 5%
Warren 2%
Saltonstall 2%

Democrats who say they might vote Republican
Willkie 45%
Dewey 22%
MacArthur 17%
Stassen 7%
Bricker 5%
Warren 2%
Saltonstall 2%
19

July 30
Presidential trial heat 

Interviewing Date 7/9-14/43
Survey #298-K
Question #14

Laborers were asked: If the presidential election were being held today, and Franklin Roosevelt were running for President on the Democratic ticket against Wendell Willkie on the Republican ticket, how do you think you would vote?
Roosevelt 65%
Willkie 35%
No opinion 4%

Union members only
Roosevelt 71%
Willkie 29%
20

July 31
Presidential trial heat 

Interviewing Date 7/9-14/43
Survey #298-K
Question #14a

Farmers were asked: If the presidential election were held today, and Franklin Roosevelt were running for President on the Democratic ticket against Wendell Willkie on the Republican ticket, how do you think you would vote?
Roosevelt 50%
Willkie 50%
No opinion 16%

Farmers outside South
Roosevelt 48%
Willkie 52%