POLITICAL NOTES: Winter-Book Stuff

Probing the people's thoughts about the presidency, Pollster George Gallup has found that most Democrats (51%) want Adlai Stevenson to be their candidate, and that most Republicans (89%) want Dwight Eisenhower on their ticket. So he has pitted the two top prospects against each other. Result:

Eisenhower . . . . . 59%

Stevenson . . . . . . 41%

In case Eisenhower doesn't run, Gallup stacked Stevenson up against Vice President Richard Nixon. Result:

Stevenson . . . . . . 61%

Nixon . . . . . . . . . . . 39%

If Stevenson does not run, Gallup asked

Democrats for their second choice. Result:

Tennessee's U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver 48%, New York's Governor Averell Harriman 14%. Gallup found that Kefauver did almost as well as Stevenson against Ike and against Nixon. Figures:

Eisenhower . . . . . . . 64%

Kefauver . . . . . . . . . 36%

Kefauver . . . . . . . . . 58%

Nixon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42%

This was a real shock to most observers who had figured Estes Kefauver as presidentially deader than Daniel Boone. Harry Truman, who has resented Kefauver since the 1951 crime hearings, is aware of the Keef's continued strength. That is one reason Truman has recently taken to the stump in praise of Stevenson.