Page "Grover Cleveland" Paragraph 21

Among the Democrats, Samuel J. Tilden was the initial front-runner, having been the party's nominee in the contested election of 1876.

Tilden, however, was in poor health, and after he declined to be nominated, his supporters shifted to several other contenders.

Cleveland was among the leaders in early support, but Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware, Allen G. Thurman of Ohio, Samuel Freeman Miller of Iowa, and Benjamin Butler of Massachusetts also had considerable followings, along with various favorite sons.

Each of the other candidates had hindrances to his nomination: Bayard had spoken in favor of secession in 1861, making him unacceptable to Northerners ; Butler, conversely, was reviled throughout the South for his actions during the Civil War ; Thurman was generally well liked, but was growing old and infirm, and his views on the silver question were uncertain.

Cleveland, too, had detractors — Tammany remained opposed to him — but the nature of his enemies made him still more friends.

Cleveland led on the first ballot, with 392 votes out of 820.

On the second ballot, Tammany threw its support behind Butler, but the rest of the delegates shifted to Cleveland, and he was nominated.

Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana was selected as his running mate.