Echoes from a Bang

Harry Truman's veto of the tax and labor bills had opened the 1948 presidential campaign with a bang. Last week, poll-taking Dr. George Gallup recorded the echoes.

Harry Truman's popularity with U.S. voters stood at 54%, down only 3% from his late May level; 58% of union members approved of him, 61% of farmer voters were still for him. As far as 71% of registered Democrats were concerned, Harry Truman was the only nominee in sight. Closest contender: Henry Wallace, with the approval of 12% of the Democrats who were polled.

Even better news for Democratic regulars was the condition of party fortunes as a whole. From a post-election slump (down to 47% last Christmas), the Democrats had bounced back into favor with 55% of U.S. voters, exactly the same percentage with which Roosevelt beat Wendell Willkie in 1940, 1.2 points more than the margin by which Roosevelt beat Tom Dewey in 1944.

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