(2 of 3)
California. Democrat Will Rogers Jr. had two big campaign assets: 1) the name & fame of his father; 2) the name & fame of James Roosevelt's father. Jimmy Roosevelt was the magnet for crowds in the small northern towns as he and Will Rogers stumped them last week. Rogers needed the help. He was trying to carry the Wallace foreign policy on one shoulder and the Truman-Byrnes policy on the other. He was cool to the P.A.C.'s support, and there was evidence that the labor vote was sulkily indifferent toward him. Republican Senator William F. Knowland plugged steadily, made six or eight speeches a day, had already covered 38 of the 58 counties. Most politicos agreed that if the election were held this week, Knowland would win.
Delaware. A few weeks ago New Dealing Senator James M. Tunnell thought that his G.O.P. opponent, poultry farmer John J. Williams, would continue to be what the Democrats had labeled him—"the man no one knows." Williams fooled them. With a vigorous, personal campaign he had forced Democrats to revise their early, cocksure predictions downward. Odds now: 60-to-40 for Tunnell.
Maryland. Two-term Governor Herbert Romulus O'Conor, who gave Senator George L. Radcliffe a sound beating in the Democratic primary, has a smooth-working machine, well-greased by patronage for this election. Governor O'Conor strums an anti-Russia serenade for Baltimore's big Catholic vote. His Republican opponent, Colonel David John Markey, a poor campaigner himself, will get much-needed help from Baltimore's popular Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin, now running for Governor. Best bet as of last week: O'Conor.
New Mexico. Democratic Senator Dennis Chavez made enemies when he beat Governor John Dempsey's machine in the primary. Now state jobholders have been given the word to "vote as you please," and many consider that a green light to vote for hurly-burly Major General Patrick Jay Hurley. He has a good chance in a closening race.
Wisconsin. Dark, vigorous Republican Joseph R. McCarthy (TIME, Aug. 26) was making the most of his high talent for gladhanding and his opportunity to blame strikes, price muddles and every other postwar difficulty on the Democratic Party. Labor seemed apathetic to Democrat Howard J. McMurray, and Progressives were making little noise in his behalf. The odds heavily favored McCarthy.
Idaho. Leftish Senator Glen ("Cowboy") Taylor is out beating the brush for squat Attorney-Rancher George Donart. Thus Republican Henry Dworshak is running against two tough campaigners. Four-term Congressman Dworshak has a fair chance in an uphill race.
Washington. Republican Harry P. Cain, former mayor of Tacoma, threw a scare into Democrats by his aggressive speeches. So the Democrats threw Senator Warren Magnuson, their glamor boy and best vote-getter, into the campaign for Senator Hugh B. Mitchell. To raise Cain's chances, the G.O.P. then opened up its big guns on the liberal side: Harold Stassen and Oregon's Senator Wayne Morse. Outlook: very close.