1844: Van Buren vs. Clay

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

In 1844, Van Buren was believed to be a lock for the Democratic nomination, but at the convention, while able to obtain a majority of delegates, he couldn't get the two thirds necessary to win the nomination. Instead, finally, dark horse James K. Polk was nominated. What if he had won the nomination and went onto face Henry Clay in the general election? How do you think the election would have gone? Any notable differences? And with the alternate winner, how would the next four years--and the resulting years following--be changed?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Former President Martin Van Buren (D-NY)/Former Governor James Knox Polk (D-TN) 149 electoral votes
Former Senator Henry Clay (W-KY)/Former Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen (W-NJ) 126 electoral votes

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Where's the Clay/Clay option in the poll?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Where's the Clay/Clay option in the poll?

Ah, very sorry about that. Number four is where it was meant to be and where it is now.

[SPC]

Where's the Clay/Clay option in the poll?

Ah, very sorry about that. Number four is where it was meant to be and where it is now.

My Van Buren/Van Buren vote has been changed to Clay/Clay

[President Johnson]

How about John Tyler being the nominee of the Democrats or running mate of Van Buren?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

How about John Tyler being the nominee of the Democrats or running mate of Van Buren?

Now, what purpose would that serve?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

scenario 1:
The campaign sees both Van Buren and Clay trying to steer a moderate course on issues of expansionism and slavery.   Van Buren is selected at the convention, and the Democrats pick Polk as an expansionist Southern candidate to balance out Van Buren but still acceptable to the Northern wing of the party. Even with Polk on the ticket and with Clay having similar positions on sectional issues, Van Buren has trouble in the South where he has a poor image as a Northerner critical of Texas annexation.   At the same time, Van Buren is able to unify both pro- and anti- slavery factions of his party in the North. 

Van Buren/Polk  Democrat   50.1     178
Clay/Frelinghuysen  Whig    48.6        97
Birney/Morris  Liberty           1.2   

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

scenario 2

Van Buren's in the Democratic Party supporters manage to stop a proposal to increase the necessary vote to 2/3 for nomination at the convention, and he is nominated.  Polk is nominated as VP in hopes of keeping Southerners and expansionists in the fold.  But while Polk stands by Van Buren, many other Democrats do not and cross over to President Tyler's National Democrat Convention also occurring in Baltimore.  This faction is popularly called the "Annexation Democrats" as their platform focuses on support for annexation and statehood for Texas. The convention also seeks to appeal to Northwestern voters in its call for gaining control of Oregon and selection of Senator William Allen of Ohio as its VP candidate.  A split Democratic Party allows Clay to win the Presidency, narrowly managing a majority in the electoral college.

Clay/Frelinguysen (Whig) -  46%      149
Van Buren/Polk  (Democrat) - 36%     72
Tyler/Allen (National "Annexation" Democrat) - 17%  54
Birney/Morris (Liberty) -  1%

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

scenario 2

Van Buren's in the Democratic Party supporters manage to stop a proposal to increase the necessary vote to 2/3 for nomination at the convention, and he is nominated.  Polk is nominated as VP in hopes of keeping Southerners and expansionists in the fold.  But while Polk stands by Van Buren, many other Democrats do not and cross over to President Tyler's National Democrat Convention also occurring in Baltimore.  This faction is popularly called the "Annexation Democrats" as their platform focuses on support for annexation and statehood for Texas. The convention also seeks to appeal to Northwestern voters in its call for gaining control of Oregon and selection of Senator William Allen of Ohio as its VP candidate.  A split Democratic Party allows Clay to win the Presidency, narrowly managing a majority in the electoral college.

Clay/Frelinguysen (Whig) -  46%      149
Van Buren/Polk  (Democrat) - 36%     72
Tyler/Allen (National "Annexation" Democrat) - 17%  54
Birney/Morris (Liberty) -  1%

This is pretty awesome (too bad Clay wins. ).