1864 - Democrats Nominate McClellan

Jim Klag

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August 29, 1864 - August 31, 1864 - Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for President and George H. Pendleton for Vice-president. Although the party platform called for an immediate end to the war McClellan advocated continuing the conflict.
 

5fish

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Here a tidbit about absentee voting back in 1864... got leave to go vote it is oblivious Lincoln rig the election by allowing soldiers to go home and vote...

The close election demanded attention to every political constituency, especially the Union soldiers. Each individual state determined on their own the process by which soldiers' vote was to be handled. Wisconsin was the first to permit their soldiers to vote in the field through absentee ballots. California, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania all followed suit. However, Illinois, Indiana, and New Jersey, which all had Democratic-controlled state legislatures, did not pass legislation allowing soldiers to vote in the field. Likewise Delaware, Rhode Island, Nevada, and Oregon failed to permit absentee voting. Whenever possible in these cases, soldiers were granted leave so that they could return home to vote.

Snip vote is casted... 78% of the army voted for Lincoln giving men leave I call a bribe... election fraud ...

Republican Abraham Lincoln received 55% of the popular vote to George B. McClellan's 45%. The soldier vote only accounted for 4% of the total vote cast. Despite Lincoln's fears in August, he overwhelmingly defeated McClellan in the popular vote by receiving 78% of it compared to 22% for his opponent. Lincoln interpreted his re-election as a mandate that the war should continue with the outcome of reunification of the nation without slavery as the only acceptable result.
 

O' Be Joyful

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However, Illinois, Indiana, and New Jersey, which all had Democratic-controlled state legislatures, did not pass legislation allowing soldiers to vote in the field. Likewise Delaware, Rhode Island, Nevada, and Oregon failed to permit absentee voting.

Reverse the political parties and what sounds old is kinda new again.

History does not repeat, but it sure as heck rhymes.
 

byron ed

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Pendelton was a close associate of Clement Vallandigham, a leading Peace Democrat who was, in the larger public's eye at least, a bit of a neutered drone by that point. As an attempted proxy Pendelton was a lame choice for VP running mate.

One has to wonder if McClellan was much connected with reality in his run for President in 1864.

He associated with the Peace Democrats but was not willing to admit to their core peace platform, claiming still he could defeat the Confederacy in war. Probably he felt the VP position was less than important, as he intended to save the Country single-handedly. By which political party he would achieve the Presidency hardly mattered ...Peace Democrats, whatever.
 
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O' Be Joyful

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he intended to save the Country single-handedly.

Yep, a reprise of 1862.

“Again I have been called upon to save my country. The case is desperate but with God’s help I will try unselfishly to do my best & if he wills it accomplish the salvation of the nation. My men are true & will stand by me to the last.”

George B. McClellan, Sep 5 1862. McClellan to his wife describing his challenge.
 
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