The factions led by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Al Smith within the Democratic Party during the 1930s had considerable differences, particularly in their support for Senate candidates. These differences reflected broader ideological and political divides within the party.

Roosevelt Faction:

1. Progressive and New Deal Oriented: The Roosevelt faction was characterized by its support for the New Deal—a series of progressive reforms and social welfare programs designed to combat the Great Depression. Roosevelt's faction favored Senate candidates who supported these policies or at least did not oppose them.
2. Diverse Coalition: Roosevelt's New Deal coalition included a wide range of groups, such as urban working-class voters, African Americans, progressive intellectuals, and various ethnic minorities. This faction often supported candidates who appealed to these diverse groups and could secure broad-based electoral support.
3. Anti-Tammany Hall: Roosevelt's faction generally positioned itself against the traditional urban political machines like Tammany Hall, which Al Smith represented. This anti-machine stance influenced their support for Senate candidates who were viewed as reformers or outsiders to the established political structures.

Smith Faction:

1. Traditional and Machine Politics: Al Smith, a former governor of New York, was identified with Tammany Hall—New York City's powerful Democratic political machine. His faction tended to support Senate candidates who were aligned with or at least sympathetic to such traditional machine politics.
2. Opposition to New Deal: Smith and his supporters were often critical of Roosevelt's New Deal policies, viewing them as overly interventionist and fiscally irresponsible. This ideological stance meant that the Smith faction supported Senate candidates who either opposed the New Deal or advocated for more conservative, business-friendly policies.
3. Focus on Urban Ethnic Base: Smith's support base included many urban ethnic voters, particularly in cities like New York. His faction preferred Senate candidates who could maintain and mobilize this traditional urban ethnic support, often through established political networks and patronage systems.

Key Differences:

• Policy Support: Roosevelt's faction backed progressive, New Deal-friendly candidates, while Smith's faction preferred more conservative or traditional Democrats.
• Political Approach: Roosevelt's faction sought reform-oriented, anti-machine candidates, whereas Smith's faction was more inclined to support candidates tied to established urban political machines.
• Coalition Building: Roosevelt's diverse coalition drove support for a wide range of candidates appealing to various demographic groups, unlike Smith's faction, which focused on traditional urban ethnic bases.

For further reading on this topic, you can refer to the sources:

• Politico: How an Unlikely Alliance Saved the Democrats 100 Years Ago
• New Deal coalition - Wikipedia