Harry Truman's sharp political instinct told him he should stay out of the New Hampshire primary. But Democratic National Chairman Frank McKinney urged him to get in; delegate candidates pledged to him would be left out in the corridor if he didn't. Furthermore, he wouldn't have to campaign; the organization would take care of everything.
But it was Estes Kefauver who took care of everything. He polled 20,147 votes to Truman's 16,298, and all twelve of his political nobodies were elected delegates. The Democratic high command tried to be nonchalant about it all. A fine, healthy thing that so many Democrats voted,...
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