Ethnics and Catholics were concentrated in large cities, which gave them a more Democratic hue. The 103 largest cities with a population of 100,000 or more in 1950 were Democratic strongholds, typically with former machines that had faded away during and after World War II.Steven P. Erie, Rainbow's end: Irish-Americans and the dilemmas of urban machine politics, 1840–1985 (U of California Press, 1990) pp. 140–142. The largest cities averaged 66% for FDR in 1932 and 1936, compared to 58% of the rest of the country. The cities dropped 5 points to 61% for FDR in 1940 and 1944, while the rest dropped 7 points to 51%.George Gallup, The Political Almanac; 1952 (1952) pp 32, 65,
Ethnics and Catholics were concentrated in large cities, which gave them a more Democratic hue. The 103 largest cities with a population of 100000 or more in 1950 were Democratic strongholds, typically with former machines that had faded away during and after World War II.Steven P. Erie Rainbow's end: Ir,ish-Americans and the dilemmas of urban machine politics, 1840–1985 (U of California Press, 1990) pp. 140–142. The largest cities averaged 66% for FDR in 1932 and 1936, compared to 58% of the rest of the country. The cities dropped 5 points to 61% for FDR in 1940 and 1944 while the rest dropped 7 points to 51%.George Gallup, The Politica,l Almanac; 1952 (1952) pp 32, 65,