The Democrats had Roosevelt as their Presidential candidate. He was going to impose Higher taxes on the American people and in return he promised that his government would set up work schemes for the masses of unemployed people.

The Republicans had Hoover standing for re-election as President. He promised lower taxes and argued that this would give the American people more spending money which would help to economy improve.

Roosevelt ultimately won because he was going to actually do something about the great depression. Whereas Hoover was promising that turnaround was coming soon and that America was going to heal by itself.