Presidential Primary

Since the South Dakota legislature may debate moving up the 2008 South Dakota Presidential primary, SDP readers may want to review an article by Philip K. Grant entitled "The 1952 Republican Presidential Primary" in the Winter 1977 issue of South Dakota History.  In 1952, there was a close battle between Senator Robert Taft of Ohio and General Eisenhower for the Presidential nomination.  Before the SD primary, Taft had won Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and West Virginia and Eisenhower had won New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Oregon.  So the contest was very tight.  In South Dakota, Taft beat Eisenhower 50.3% to 49.7%.  The Argus Leader endorsed Eisenhower, by the way.  See the article if you're interested in more information.