By the end of 1909, Democratic Party leaders realized that they had an excellent chance to defeat President Taft in 1912. Maneuvering was in full swing in 1910. The Michigan state Democratic convention on 5/16/1910 placed Gov. Judson Harmon of Ohio in nomination (NYT 5/17/1910), and he was then endorsed by the Ohio state Democratic convention on 6/22/1910 (NYT 6/23/1910).

Additional candidates entered the field after the mid-term election of 1910. Woodrow Wilson's election as Governor of New Jersey capatulted him into contention; early in 1911, it appeared that the struggle would be between Harmon, representing the conservative Democrats, and Wilson, representing the progressive Democrats. However, as the year 1911 progressed, Harmon failed to attract additional endorsements. In 10/1911, U.S. Rep. Oscar W. Underwood (AL) entered the race, scooping up Harmon's Southern support. Then after Congress assembled and Champ Clark of Missouri became the Speaker of the newly Democratic U.S. House, his name became commonly mentioned.

For the first time, some delegates to the national convention were chosen in primaries. Altogether, 22 states held Democratic presidential preference primaries in 1912. The results were rather inconclusive. Clark won nine primaries (IL, NE, MA, NV, MD, CA, AZ, RI, and SD), with 185 delegates. Wilson won only five p

[More...]

By the end of 1909, Democratic Party leaders realized that they had an excellent chance to defeat President Taft in 1912. Maneuvering was in full swing in 1910. The Michigan state Democratic convention on 5/16/1910 placed Gov. Judson Harmon of Ohio in nomination (NYT 5/17/1910), and he was then endorsed by the Ohio state Democratic convention on 6/22/1910 (NYT 6/23/1910).

Additional candidates entered the field after the mid-term election of 1910. Woodrow Wilson's election as Governor of New Jersey capatulted him into contention; early in 1911, it appeared that the struggle would be between Harmon, representing the conservative Democrats, and Wilson, representing the progressive Democrats. However, as the year 1911 progressed, Harmon failed to attract additional endorsements. In 10/1911, U.S. Rep. Oscar W. Underwood (AL) entered the race, scooping up Harmon's Southern support. Then after Congress assembled and Champ Clark of Missouri became the Speaker of the newly Democratic U.S. House, his name became commonly mentioned.

For the first time, some delegates to the national convention were chosen in primaries. Altogether, 22 states held Democratic presidential preference primaries in 1912. The results were rather inconclusive. Clark won nine primaries (IL, NE, MA, NV, MD, CA, AZ, RI, and SD), with 185 delegates. Wilson won only five primaries (WI, PA, OR, NJ, and TX), but collected 184 delegates. Underwood won four Southern primaries (AL, FL, GA, and MS) with 86 delegates. Harmon won NY and OH with 134 delegates.

Democratic Primaries of 1912 with winners indicated by first letter of last name:

3/19: ND (B)

4/2: AL (U), WI (W)

4/9: IL (C)

4/13: PA (W)

4/19: NE (C), OR (W)

4/30: MA (C)

5/1: FL (U), GA (U)

5/4: NV (C)

5/5: TX(W)

5/6: MD (C)

5/7: MS (U)

5/14: CA (C)

5/21: OH (H)

5/28: NJ (W)

5/29: AZ (C)

5/31: RI (C)

6/4: SD (C)

[Less...]