Election 1944: Gallup Polls

August 1
Presidential trial heat

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

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 59%
Willkie 41%
No opinion 8%

By income

Roosevelt Willkie
Upper 39% 61%
Middle 53% 47%
Lower 66% 34%

By age

Roosevelt Willkie
21-29 years 67% 33%
30-49 years 58% 42%
50 years and over 55% 45%

By region

Roosevelt Willkie
East 58% 42%
Midwest 54% 46%
South 71% 29%
West 56% 44%

August 4
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 7/9-14/43
Survey #298-K
Question #13b

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

Choice of Ohio Republicans

Bricker 54%
Dewey 19%
MacArthur 12%
Willkie 11%
Stassen 4%
Saltonstall <1%
Warren <1%

Choice of New York Republicans

Dewey 53%
Willkie 27%
MacArthur 8%
Bricker 5%
Stassen 4%
Saltonstall 2%
Warren 1%

Choice of Pennsylvania Republicans

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

Choice of Illinois Republicans

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

August 8
Presidential trial heat

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

If the presidential election were being held today and Franklin Roosevelt were running for President on the Democratic ticket against Thomas E. Dewey on the Republican ticket, how do you think you would vote?

Roosevelt 55%
Dewey 45%

By income

Roosevelt Dewey
Upper 43% 57%
Middle 50% 50%
Lower 61% 39%

By occupation

Roosevelt Dewey
Workers 59% 41%
Farmers 45% 55%
Farmers outside South 39% 61%

By age

Roosevelt Dewey
21-29 years 64% 36%
30-49 years 54% 46%
50 years and over 51% 49%

By region

Roosevelt Dewey
East 55% 45%
Midwest 51% 49%
South 72% 28%
West 55% 45%

Union members only

Roosevelt 67%
Dewey 33%

August 16
Democratic presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 7/30 – 8/4/43
Survey #299-K
Question #8a

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

Choice of New York Democrats

Roosevelt 88%
Wallace 5%
McNutt 2%
Farley 2%
Douglas 1%
Winant 1%
Byrnes 1%

Choice of Pennsylvania Democrats

Roosevelt 91%
Wallace 5%
Farley 2%
McNutt 1%
Winant 1%
Douglas <1%
Byrnes <1%

Choice of Illinois Democrats

Roosevelt 87%
Wallace 5%
Farley 4%
Byrnes 2%
McNutt 1%
Douglas 1%
Winant <1%

Choice of Ohio Democrats

Roosevelt 91%
Farley 3%
Byrnes 3%
Wallace 2%
Douglas 1%
Winant <1%
McNutt <1%

Choice of California Democrats

Roosevelt 86%
Wallace 6%
Farley 4%
McNutt 1%
Douglas 1%
Byrnes 1%
Winant 1%

September 5
Voting age

Interviewing Date 8/20-25/43
Survey #300-T
Question #1

Congress may be called upon to consider a constitutional amendment to allow persons 18, 19, and 20 years old to vote in elections. Would you like to have your Congressman vote for or against this proposal?

For 52%
Against 42%
No opinion 6%

By region

For Against No opinion
New England/Mid-Atlantic 53% 41% 6%
East Central 50% 45% 5%
West Central 50% 45% 5%
South 52% 40% 8%
West 53% 40% 7%

September 17
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 8/26-31/43
Survey #301-K
Question #4b

If Harold Stassen, Leverett Saltonstall, Douglas MacArthur, John Bricker, Earl Warren, Robert Taft, Thomas Dewey, and Wendell Willkie were candidates for the Republican presidential nomination next year, which would you prefer?

Choice of New York Republicans

Dewey 51%
Willkie 29%
MacArthur 11%
Taft 3%
Bricker 2%
Saltonstall 2%
Warren 1%
Stassen 1%

Choice of Pennsylvania Republicans

Dewey 39%
Willkie 30%
MacArthur 16%
Taft 7%
Bricker 5%
Stassen 1%
Saltonstall 1%
Warren 1%

Choice of Illinois Republicans

Dewey 39%
Willkie 20%
MacArthur 20%
Taft 10%
Bricker 6%
Stassen 5%
Saltonstall <1%
Warren <1%

Choice of Ohio Republicans

Bricker 47%
Dewey 16%
Willkie 14%
MacArthur 12%
Taft 9%
Stassen 2%
Warren <1%
Saltonstall <1%

Choice of California Republicans

Willkie 35%
Dewey 27%
MacArthur 14%
Warren 13%
Taft 4%
Bricker 3%
Stassen 3%
Saltonstall 1%

Choice of New Jersey Republicans

Dewey 43%
Willkie 30%
MacArthur 14%
Taft 8%
Bricker 3%
Saltonstall 1%
Warren 1%
Stassen <1%

Choice of Michigan Republicans

Dewey 46%
Willkie 21%
MacArthur 16%
Bricker 8%
Taft 5%
Stassen 3%
Saltonstall 1%
Warren <1%

Choice of Indiana Republicans

Willkie 30%
Dewey 30%
MacArthur 13%
Bricker 12%
Taft 11%
Stassen 4%
Saltonstall <1%
Warren <1%

Choice of Massachusetts Republicans

Willkie 45%
Dewey 29%
Saltonstall 16%
MacArthur 9%
Bricker 1%
Taft <1%
Stassen <1%
Warren <1%

Choice of Missouri Republicans

Dewey 32%
Willkie 27%
MacArthur 23%
Taft 7%
Bricker 5%
Stassen 4%
Warren 1%
Saltonstall 1%

September 19
Presidential trial heat

Interviewing Date 8/26 – 9/1/43
Survey #301-K
Question #5c

If the presidential election were being held today, and Franklin Roosevelt were running for President on the Democratic ticket against Douglas MacArthur on the Republican ticket, how do you think you would vote?

Roosevelt 58%
MacArthur 42%

By region

Roosevelt MacArthur
New England 60% 40%
Mid-Atlantc 60% 40%
East Central 54% 46%
West Central 49% 51%
South 69% 31%
Mountain 51% 49%
Pacific 60% 40%

By income

Roosevelt MacArthur
Upper 50% 50%
Middle 55% 45%
Lower 62% 38%

By age

Roosevelt MacArthur
21-29 years 71% 29%
30-49 years 59% 41%
50 years and over 51% 49%

Farmers only

Roosevelt 44%
MacArthur 56%

Farmers outside South only

Roosevelt 42%
MacArthur 58%

September 22
Voting age

Interviewing Date 8/20-25/43
Survey #300-T
Question #1

Voters in the ten states with the largest number of votes cast in 1940 were asked: Congress may be called upon to consider a constitutional amendment to allow persons 18, 19, and 20 years old to vote in elections. Would you like to have your Congressman vote for or against this proposal?

For Against Undecided
New York 55% 40% 5%
Pennsylvania 53% 40% 7%
Illinois 48% 47% 5%
Ohio 51% 43% 6%
California 52% 42% 6%
Michigan 52% 44% 4%
Massachusetts 47% 46% 7%
New Jersey 58% 36% 6%
Missouri 48% 47% 5%
Indiana 49% 44% 7%

September 24
Presidential trial heat

Interviewing Date 8/26 – 9/1/43
Survey #301-K
Question #6b

If the presidential election were being held today and Henry Wallace were running for President on the Democratic ticket against Thomas Dewey on the Republican ticket, how do you think you would vote?

Dewey 60%
Wallace 40%

By region

Dewey Wallace
New England 69% 31%
Mid-Atlantic 64% 36%
East Central 62% 38%
West Central 61% 39%
South 36% 64%
Rocky Mountain 61% 39%
Pacific Coast 64% 36%
Interviewing Date 9/16-21/43
Survey #302-J
Question #5a

If the presidential election were being held today and Franklin Roosevelt were running for President on the Democratic ticket against Thomas Dewey on the Republican ticket, how do you think you would vote?

Dewey 45%
Roosevelt 55%

October 3
Most important problem

Interviewing Date 8/26 – 9/1/43
Survey #301-K
Question #5a

Looking ahead to the next presidential term, that is, from 1945 to 1949, what do you think will be the greatest problem facing this country?

Jobs, economic adjustment 58%
Lasting peace 13%
Reducing taxes, paying off national debt 11%
Food shortages 6%
Labor problems 4%
Growing bureaucracy in government 3%
Others 15%

October 17
Party strength

Interviewing Date 10/1-5/43
Survey #303-K
Question #2

Leaving the question of candidates aside, if the presidential election were being held today, which party would you vote for – the Democratic or the Republican?

Democratic 54%
Republican 46%

By region

Demoratic Republican
New England 51% 49%
Mid-Atlantic 52% 48%
East Central 49% 51%
West Central 46% 54%
South 76% 24%
Rocky Mountain 55% 45%
Pacific Coast 53% 47%

October 20
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 9/16-21/43
Survey #302-J
Question #4c

Missouri Republicans were asked: Which one of these men would you prefer as the Republican candidate for President next year?

Dewey 28%
MacArthur 26%
Willkie 25%
Taft 7%
Bricker 7%
Stassen 5%
Warren 1%
Saltonstall 1%

October 25
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 9/16-21/43
Survey #302-J
Question #4c

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

Dewey 32%
Willkie 28%
MacArthur 19%
Bricker 8%
Stassen 6%
Taft 5%
Warren 1%
Saltonstall 1%

By region

Dewey Willkie MacArthur Bricker Others
New England 30% 40% 15% 2% 13%
Mid-Atlantic 41% 29% 17% 4% 9%
East Central 30% 18% 19% 19% 14%
West Central 30% 26% 10% 5% 19%
South 24% 35% 26% 5% 10%
Mountain 26% 33% 22% 6% 13%
Pacific 25% 32% 17% 4% 22%

October 31
Wendell Willkie

Interviewing Date 10/1-5/43
Survey #303-K
Question #10a

We would like to find out what things people like and dislike about Wendell Willkie. What do you, yourself, like most about him?

The following are listed in order of frequency of mention:

  • Sincerity, frankness, ability
  • Winning personality
  • Fine appearance
  • Speaking ability
  • Open-mindedness
  • Progressiveness
  • Interest in world affairs
Interviewing Date 10/1-5/43
Survey #303-K
Question #10b

Now what would you say you like least about him?

The following are listed in order of frequency of mention:

  • Too changeable
  • Talks too much
  • Judgments are not sound
  • Too much like Roosevelt
  • Lacks political experience
  • Is a Republican
Interviewing Date 10/1-5/43
Survey #303-K
Question #10d

Do you think Mr. Willkie could handle big problems like unemployment better than President Roosevelt, as well as Roosevelt, or not so well?

Better 16%
As well 30%
Not so well 41%
No opinion 13%

By political affiliation

Better As well Not so well No opinion
Republicans 30% 36% 23% 11%
Democrats 5% 24% 58% 13%
Interviewing Date 10/1-5/43
Survey #303-K
Question #10e

Do you think Mr. Willkie would be good at handling problems which will come up after the war concerning our relations with other nations?

Yes 53%
No 24%
No opinion 23%

By political affiliation

Yes No No opinion
Republicans 62% 22% 16%
Democrats 46% 28% 26%

November 7
Party strength

Interviewing Date 10/8-13/43
Survey #304-K
Question #9

Midwestern farmers were asked: Leaving the question of candidates aside, if the presidential election were being held today, which party would you vote for?

Democratic 40%
Republican 60%

November 14
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 10/8-13/43
Survey #304-K
Question #10

Republicans were asked: If you had to choose between Thomas Dewey and Wendell Willkie for the Republican presidential nomination, which one would you prefer?

Dewey 55%
Willkie 35%
Undecided 10%

By region

Dewey Willkie Undecided
New England/Mid-Atlantic 52% 40% 8%
East Central 69% 23% 8%
West Central 57% 32% 11%
South 36% 45% 19%
West 48% 42% 10%

November 27
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 9/16-21/43
Survey #302-J
Question #4c

Ohio Republicans were asked: Which one of the following would you prefer as the Republican presidential candidate next year?

Bricker 40%
Dewey 18%
Willkie 16%
MacArthur 16%
Taft 7%
Stassen 3%

November 28
Roosevelt administration

Interviewing Date 11/11-16/43
Survey #306-K
Question #3

Those voters in New York, New Jersey, and Kentucky who shifted to the Republican Party at the last election were asked: What do you like least about the way the Roosevelt administration is handling things?

The following reasons are listed in order of frequency of mention:

  • Incompetent and dictatorial management of home affairs
  • Coddling of labor
  • Government extravagance
  • Failure to keep prices down
  • Bad job of rationing

December 10
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 11/25 – 12/1/43
Survey #307-K
Question #6

Pennsylvania Republicans were asked: Which one of the following would you like to see nominated for President by the Republican Party next year?

Dewey 36%
Willkie 29%
MacArthur 19%
Taft 6%
Bricker 5%
Stassen 5%
Others <1%

December 11
Republican presidential candidates

Interviewing Date 11/25 – 12/1/43
Survey #307-K
Question #6a

New Jersey Republicans were asked: Which one of the following would you like to see nominated for President by the Republican Party next year?

Dewey 39%
Willkie 30%
MacArthur 17%
Taft 7%
Bricker 4%
Stassen 3%
Others <1%