If James G. Blaine bows out in 1884, who does the GOP nominate that year? Let's say that Blaine decides that his candidacy might be too tainted due to corruption allegations, which wouldn't be unreasonable considering that corruption allegations previously caused him to lose the 1876 Republican presidential nomination to Rutherford B. Hayes. In such a scenario, who would the GOP nominate in Blaine's place? Incumbent US President Chester A. Arthur would still have his own half-hearted presidential bid, but he was suffering from Bright's Disease and thus would not put up a fully serious effort in his fight for the GOP presidential nomination. So, whom would Blaine's delegates at the 1884 GOP Convention have defected to en masse? To Benjamin Harrison like in real life in 1888? To someone else?
This alternate history question is fascinating for me because Blaine only lost New York in 1884 by 0.10% and with it lost the 1884 election. This was due to the defection of the Mugwumps, whom a more honest GOP presidential candidate would have probably persuaded to continue voting for the GOP in 1884:
Anyway, what do you think about this, @stevep @History Learner @Skallagrim @sillygoose @Chiron @Zyobot @Earl @Atarlost @raharris1973?
This alternate history question is fascinating for me because Blaine only lost New York in 1884 by 0.10% and with it lost the 1884 election. This was due to the defection of the Mugwumps, whom a more honest GOP presidential candidate would have probably persuaded to continue voting for the GOP in 1884:
Anyway, what do you think about this, @stevep @History Learner @Skallagrim @sillygoose @Chiron @Zyobot @Earl @Atarlost @raharris1973?