Politics: The 1932 Democratic Nomination Race

Roosevelt the Frontrunner.

Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York was the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for president, but with victory for the Democrats almost a certainty, stakes were high, and an internecine primary battle broke out in the Democratic ranks. Challenging Roosevelt were a series of "favorite son" candidates, including Gov. George White of Ohio, Gov. William "Alfalfa Bill" Murray of Oklahoma (with his "Bread, Butter, Bacon, and Beans" campaign), Sen. James H. Lewis of Illinois, Speaker of the House John Nance Garner of Texas, and former senator James A. Reed of Missouri. Of these challengers Garner, promoted by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, had the most convention delegates lined up behind him. Roosevelt faced his greatest challenge, however, from the party's 1928 presidential nominee, Alfred E. "AT Smith of New York. Smith, supported by party conservatives, had almost two hundred delegate...

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