1888 Election (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Though her two years in office had been tumultuous, marked by clashes with the Democratic majority in Congress and economic downturn, President Elizabeth Cady Stanton - the first female chief executive in the nation's history - was easily renominated by the Populist convention on a platform calling for the passage of a Woman's Rights Act, the coinage of silver currency, and the prosecution of the large monopolies that many believe to be strangling the country. Stanton's foremost opponent is former Governor Grover Cleveland of New York, a staunch supporter of the gold standard. Cleveland and the Democrats have blamed the Populists for the Panic of 1886, claiming that the party's inflationary policies gave rise to the economic depression. The Republicans, meanwhile, are attempting to rebuild after their catastrophic loss in 1884. Their candidate is Mr. Robert Todd Lincoln, son of former President Abraham Lincoln and a noted attorney. Though Lincoln has had no previous experience in elected office, his numerous connections with leaders of the Republican Party and the business community won him the nomination, prompting much ridicule from Populists and Democrats alike. For their part, Lincoln's surrogates have promised a "pro-business, pro-worker administration", though it is not clear exactly what that means. Almost an afterthought are the Prohibitionists, who have nominated veteran of the Mexican War Clinton Fisk on a temperance platform.

[Mr. Smith]

Stanton (D)

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Stanton (D)

[Zioneer]

Stanton, though I'm glad RTL is at least on the GOP ticket this time around. Perhaps I'll vote for them (or the Dems) in the general next time around.

[Türkisblau]

Fisk, because he's a total FF.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Bump.

[Zioneer]

Interesting that Cleveland and Stanton are so evenly matched, considering the whole "where's my Pa" issue with Cleveland.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

1888 Presidential Election

President Elizabeth Cady Stanton (People's-New York)/ Senator James H. Kyle (People's-Ohio): 204 Electoral Votes; 39.3% popular votes
Fmr. Governor Grover Cleveland (Democratic-New York)/ Senator Allen G. Thurman (Democratic-Ohio): 165 Electoral Votes; 35.7% popular votes
Mr. Robert Todd Lincoln (Republican-New York)/ Governor William O'Connell Bradley (Republican): 32 Electoral Votes; 14.3% popular votes
General Clinton B. Fisk (Prohibition-New Jersey)/ Mr. John A. Brooks (Prohibition-Missouri): 0 Electoral Votes; 10.7% popular votes

In one of the closest contests in American history, President Stanton narrowly defeated former Governor Grover Cleveland in spite of a faltering economy, becoming the first woman ever elected to the presidency of the United States. Though Stanton's radical views on woman's rights lost her support in the traditionally-Populist border states, the party's growing strength among black voters in the South was enough to put her over the edge, while the Democrats would maintain control of Congress. Meanwhile, the Republicans' attempt to revive their party failed miserably, with novice candidate Robert Todd Lincoln taking a measly 14% of the popular vote, barely surpassing Prohibitionist Clinton B. Fisk.

[Boston Bread]

How the heck did the Republicans win 32 electoral votes with 14%?

If their vote stays concentrated in one area, it's not that difficult. Wallace and Thurmond got decent numbers of electoral votes because their vote was concentrated; Perot got none because it was spread out. It also helps that the winner got less than 40%.
Presumably the GOP has declined quite precipitously outside the New England, with their African American base now voting populist.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I would say Cleveland would probably take NH too. It was pretty close during the post-Reconstruction era.

[Boston Bread]

I wonder, what would the Prohibition Party's strongest states/areas? What type of county would vote Prohibition? My guess would be rural upper south counties with relatively few immigrants, like the parts of rural Kentucky which still have anti-alcohol laws.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I wonder, what would the Prohibition Party's strongest states/areas? What type of county would vote Prohibition?

As in OTL, the Prohibitionists are strongest in the rural areas of the Midwest - Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of Michigan. They also made a respectable showing in New England, mainly in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Oddly enough, they actually had a stronger showing in Massachusetts than they did in Kentucky!

How the heck did the Republicans win 32 electoral votes with 14%?

If their vote stays concentrated in one area, it's not that difficult. Wallace and Thurmond got decent numbers of electoral votes because their vote was concentrated; Perot got none because it was spread out. It also helps that the winner got less than 40%.
Presumably the GOP has declined quite precipitously outside the New England, with their African American base now voting populist.

Thanks, that makes sense. Especially if he's only pulling like 38% in those states and winning due to the fragmented electorate.

And yes, I confirm what New Canadaland said. By this point, the Republicans are basically a regional party focussed in New England with some strength in the Mid Atlantic states. They had a pretty sizable base of support in the South for a while, but starting in the Weaver administration Southern blacks began migrating away from the Republicans and into the People's Party. Everywhere else is essentially a two-way competition between the Democrats and the Populists, with a few Republicans (Benjamin Harrison, John Sherman) still holding on.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Wait...Kyle was a Senator from South Dakota.