In 1937 he defeated [[Pat Harrison]] of Mississippi for Senate Majority Leader by 38-37, by stressing his loyalty to [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], especially on the Court Packing proposal of 1937. His most critical election came in the 1938 primary when he defended the [[New Deal]] against conservative Gov. Happy Chandler. After a bitter campaign, Barkley won with 56% of the vote, drawing his support from farmers and workers, while the middle class voted against him. | In 1937 he defeated [[Pat Harrison]] of Mississippi for Senate Majority Leader by 38-37, by stressing his loyalty to [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], especially on the Court Packing proposal of 1937. His most critical election came in the 1938 primary when he defended the [[New Deal]] against conservative Gov. Happy Chandler. After a bitter campaign, Barkley won with 56% of the vote, drawing his support from farmers and workers, while the middle class voted against him. |