The Pittsburgh Press (October 31, 1944)
Party bigwigs are worried as campaign hits stretch
Hottest campaign since 1928 stumps experts, who can’t figure out soldier votes
New York (UP) –
The nation’s hottest political campaign since 1928 swept into the home stretch today with pollcasters keeping tongue in cheek and crossing fingers on both hands because this 1944 campaign – the first in wartime since Abraham Lincoln – has become a nightmare for those who take straw ballots.
Even the high politicos of both parties are worried. The main thing that stumps them is the soldier vote. About 4,300,000 servicemen and women are expected to return ballots and the law prevents taking a poll of them.
In some pivotal states, such as Pennsylvania, the soldier vote may well decide the victor. Democratic leaders privately admit they are counting heavily on the soldier vote.
Vote extensions passed
The New York State Legislature, acting on suggestions by Governor Thomas E. Dewey, yesterday passed at a special session legislation extending from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 the deadline for the return of soldier ballots, and extended the polling time in the state by two hours. The predominantly-Republican body defeated a Democratic move to extend the soldier-vote deadline until Nov. 30.
National Democratic Chairman Robert E. Hannegan told a press conference yesterday that he had “no doubt” the Democratic ticket would carry Massachusetts, and added that “reports are more favorable every day” that President Roosevelt will carry New York.
Mr. Roosevelt swings his campaign activities to Massachusetts Saturday, when he speaks at Boston. En route, Mr. Hannegan said, he probably will make brief rear-platform appearances at Hartford and Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The votes in 1940
Some Democratic claims assert that Governor Dewey won’t carry all the ten states which the late Wendell Willkie won in 1940. Those states and the vote were:
| Willkie | Roosevelt | |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 177,065 | 131,362 |
| North Dakota | 154,590 | 124,036 |
| Nebraska | 352,201 | 263,677 |
| Michigan | 1,039,917 | 1,032,991 |
| Kansas | 489,169 | 364,725 |
| Idaho | 632,370 | 578,800 |
| Indiana | 899,466 | 874,063 |
| Colorado | 279,576 | 265,554 |
| Maine | 163,951 | 156,478 |
| Vermont | 78,371 | 64,269 |
Those 10 states gave Mr. Willkie 82 Electoral College votes in 1940. This year they are worth only 78, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas and Nebraska having lost one vote each as a result of reapportionment.
City vote in 1940
Mr. Willkie’s biggest weakness in 1940 was in the big cities. He lost several important states, including New York, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania, because the city vote turned against him. Dewey men believe he can cut down that metropolitan advantage.
Important cities which Mr. Willkie lost and the vote included:
NEW YORK CITY: Roosevelt, 1,966,083; Willkie, 1,247,624. State vote, city included: Roosevelt, 3,251,918; Willkie, 3,027,478.
PHILADELPHIA: Roosevelt, 532,149; Willkie, 354,878. State vote, city included: Roosevelt, 2,171,035; Willkie, 1,899,848.
CLEVELAND: Roosevelt, 347,118; Willkie, 209,070. State vote, city included: Roosevelt, 1,733,139; Willkie, 1,586,773.
CHICAGO: Roosevelt, 1,029,538; Willkie, 731,716. State vote, city included: Roosevelt, 2,142,934; Willkie, 2,047,240.
DETROIT: Roosevelt, 447,000; Willkie, 280,000. State vote, city included: Willkie, 1,039,917; Roosevelt, 1,032,991.
The Republicans barely managed to squeeze Michigan into their bag, but they lost the other states mainly because of those large city leads.
And there you have the pattern for the 1944 campaign. Both candidates are making torrid bids for votes in Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia.