1912 Election (The Hearse at Monticello)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Effortlessly defeating a convention challenge by former Secretary of State Thomas Watson, President Eugene V. Debs was easily renominated by the Populist Party on a platform calling for tariff reform, the direct election of senators, and an end to prohibition. With Vice President Stevenson having declined renomination, Alabama Governor and advocate for racial equality Oscar Underwood has been chosen to fill the second spot on the People's ticket.

While the Democratic National Convention was uneventful, seeing the unanimous nomination of the party's candidate from the previous election, Champ Clark, the American Party was another story. At the 1912 ANC, a fierce battle ensued between Senator Robert M. La Follette, the party's Congressional leader, and former President Theodore Roosevelt. Thanks in part to the support of conservatives, who considered La Follette an untrustworthy radical, Roosevelt clinched the nomination by a hair. An insulted La Follette has bolted the party and formed a third party "Progressive" ticket with Virginia Governor Woodrow Wilson.

Thus, the 1912 Election has morphed into a four-way race between Debs, Roosevelt, La Follette, and Clark. While La Follette has attempted to cut into Debs' support amongst farmers and labor unions, arguing that he alone understands the need for vigorous government action to overthrow the Trusts, Roosevelt has taken the opposite approach, appealing to conservatives within the American Party and trumpeting his support for free enterprise as distinct from Debs' populism and La Follette's progressivism. Roosevelt claims that this new tenor is in keeping with his past actions, and has stood by the record of his first term, but many progressives - including former ally Gifford Pinchot - consider Roosevelt's campaign base treachery and have united behind La Follette. Clark, meanwhile has attempted to cast himself as the only true conservative candidate, castigating Roosevelt as a demagogue, La Follette as a socialist, and Debs as an unbridled radical.

Can Debs break the "one term curse" that has afflicted every president since Cleveland? Will Roosevelt and La Follette hand victory to the Populists? Can the Democrats return to relevance after twelve years out of power? The choice is yours.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Ugh, you had to give Bob the only had VP. Good thing those don't ever sway me.

[Mr. Smith]

I was torn between Bob, Ted, and Gene quite equally.

But the addition of Underwood to Debs has me sold.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Gene vs Bob? Tough choice.

Gene vs Teddy? Not so much. Gene!

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

debs obviously

[Sumner 1868]

debs obviously

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

If we vote for Champ, we might be able to take over Canada!

[Dr. Cynic]

I vote Mean Gene and Oscar the Grouch!

This ticket can't lose!

[Antonio the Sixth]

Re-elect the President!

Fighting Bob would make a great President as well, but I'll support him later on.

[Zioneer]

I hope Fighting Bob runs again later on, but for now, Debs is great, and has my support.

[Dr. Cynic]

This could be a very interesting result...

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Bump.

[ElectionsGuy]

Clark, the only non-progressive.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

1912 Presidential Election

President Eugene V. Debs (People's-Indiana)/ Governor Oscar Underwood (People's-Alabama): 329 Electoral Votes; 40.5% popular votes
Senator Robert M. La Follette (Progressive-Wisconsin)/ Governor Woodrow Wilson (Progressive-Virginia): 96 Electoral Votes; 21.6% popular votes
Fmr. President Theodore Roosevelt (American-South Dakota)/ Congressman Charles W. Fairbanks (American-Indiana): 82 Electoral Votes; 21.6% popular votes
Congressman Champ Clark (Democratic-Kentucky)/ Judge Alton B. Parker (Democratic-New York): 24 Electoral Votes; 16.2% popular votes

With the American Party split between La Follette and Roosevelt, Debs' reelection was never in doubt. On election day, Debs floored his opponents in the Electoral College, carrying 33 of the 48 states despite winning just over 40% of the popular vote. To the severe disappointment of Debs' opponents, analysis of the electoral returns would suggest that, had the American vote not split, either Roosevelt or La Follette could very likely have defeated Debs, and the stigma of having handed the Populists the election would haunt "Fighting Bob" for many years.

[Sumner 1868]

Debs reelected by a smaller popular vote? Shame on Atlas.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Debs reelected by a smaller popular vote? Shame on Atlas.

He's still the first president to be elected to two terms since James B. Weaver, though, and the first president to be reelected period since Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

[Sumner 1868]

Debs reelected by a smaller popular vote? Shame on Atlas.

He's still the first president to be elected to two terms since James B. Weaver, though, and the first president to be reelected period since Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

True.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Debs reelected by a smaller popular vote? Shame on Atlas.

He's still the first president to be elected to two terms since James B. Weaver, though, and the first president to be reelected period since Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

And the first to serve two full terms since John Parker Hale.