Discuss the issues and personalities in the 1928 presidential campaign, and explain the outcome of the election.

The 1928 presidential campaign was a significant one in American history, as it featured two prominent personalities and highlighted several important issues. The Republican candidate was Herbert Hoover, a successful businessman and former Secretary of Commerce. He was known for his progressive views and his role in humanitarian efforts during World War I. The Democratic candidate was Al Smith, the Governor of New York and the first Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party. Smith was a champion of urban and immigrant communities and a vocal opponent of Prohibition.

One of the key issues in the 1928 campaign was Prohibition, which had been in effect since 1920. Hoover supported the continuation of Prohibition, while Smith advocated for its repeal. The economy was also a major concern, as the country was experiencing a period of prosperity, but there were signs of an impending economic downturn. Hoover's platform focused on maintaining economic stability and promoting business interests, while Smith emphasized the need for government intervention to address economic inequality and support workers.

The outcome of the election was a landslide victory for Herbert Hoover, who won 58% of the popular vote and carried 40 out of 48 states. This was largely attributed to Hoover's popularity as a successful businessman and his association with the prosperous Republican administration of the 1920s. Additionally, Smith's Catholicism and his opposition to Prohibition were seen as liabilities in many parts of the country, particularly in rural and conservative areas.

Overall, the 1928 presidential campaign highlighted the divisions within American society, particularly between urban and rural populations, and between progressive and conservative viewpoints. The election of Hoover marked a continuation of Republican dominance in the 1920s, but it also set the stage for the economic challenges and political changes that would define the following decade.