Challenge: Have Gen. Winfield Scott win the 1852 Presidential Election

[Frodo]

In OTL, due to the issue of slavery and Scott's personal abhorrence of it which led to his defeat in the South, and the perception of his support of slavery which doomed him in the North, he lost (as the Whig Party nominee) in a landslide to Mexican War veteran, New Hampshire native, and Democrat Franklin Pierce.

Can anyone think of a way to make Winfield Scott the second consecutive Mexican War hero (w/ Gen. Zachary Taylor being the first in 1848) to be elected to the Presidency?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Idea: Zach Taylor lives. No compromise of 1850, civil war, Zach marches into the south & kicks ass. The aging general announces he won't seek a second term & instead another General, Winfield Scott is nominated & wins.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Idea: Zach Taylor lives. No compromise of 1850, civil war, Zach marches into the south & kicks ass.

Even independent of the context of this thread, this would be one of the most badass timelines ever.

[Jerseyrules]

Fillmore would have to drop out after the first ballot

[tpfkaw]

Van Buren might be able to split the Democratic vote again if he runs again.  (Democrats splitting into Northern and Southern factions early might be even better for this).

[Jerseyrules]

Perhaps the Dems nominate Douglas, then southerners walkout and nominate Cass?  Or the Dems denominate Van Buren?  Would be an awesome TL .  And don't go hating on Fillmore, the last citizen politician and respectable moderate president!

[Indy Prez]

Scott comes out as a vehement abolitionist, forming a coalition with the Free Soilers and Pierce warns of a likely Civil War -the election gets interesting. He wins in the closest election yet then as President goes to War and gets himself shot by a Southern sympathizer. The Whig Party becomes the American Union Party and one-party politics prevale for another twenty/twenty-four years much like the Democratic-Republicans, before splitting into the Liberty and Justice Parties, respectively.

[Jerseyrules]

Scott comes out as a vehement abolitionist, forming a coalition with the Free Soilers and Pierce warns of a likely Civil War -the election gets interesting. He wins in the closest election yet then as President goes to War and gets himself shot by a Southern sympathizer. The Whig Party becomes the American Union Party and one-party politics prevale for another twenty/twenty-four years much like the Democratic-Republicans, before splitting into the Liberty and Justice Parties, respectively.

Sounds like a TL!