The Democratic nomination for President was held in Baltimore in June. The contenders included House Speaker Champ Clarke of Missouri, Representative Oscar Underwood of Alabama, Governor Judson Harmon of Ohio and Woodrow Wilson. It took 467 ballots to nominate Wilson.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt opposed the renomination of Taft by the Republican party, but the party professionals were solidly behind Taft. As a result, Roosevelt left the party to form his own, which he called "the Progressive" or "Bull-Moose Party".
The election was one of the most lively in United States history. Roosevelt was relentless campaigning and speaking everywhere. Only a bullet slowed him down. On October 14th Roosevelt was shot on the way to a campaign rally. He insisted on keeping his appointment despite being shot in the chest. After removing a blood soaked speech from his pocket he stated " It is nothing. I am not hurt badly. I have a message to deliver and deliver it as long as there is life in my body". For an hour and half he spoke and then was rushed to the hospital after he had finished. The other candidates suspended campaigning while he was recuperating.
Roosevelt ran on a platform of Progressivism, Wilson on a similar but slightly different one of liberalism. Taft was the only conservative running, but even he believed that days of unbridled capitalism without regulation was over. With the Republican vote divided between Roosevelt and Taft, Wilson was all but assured the victory that he obtained.
Participation of Eligible Voters: 58.8% |
