What factors led the democrats to have gloomy prospect for the 1952 presidential election?

1) Military deadlock in Korea over the matter of prisoner repatriation,

2) Harry Truman’s conflict with MacArthur - Truman relieved MacArthur of his command when the latter made public announcements contradictory to the administration's policies

3) War-bred inflation - farm prices began to fall and continued for the next decade