Page "Theodore Roosevelt" Paragraph 77

Roosevelt, stepping up his attack on judges, carried nine of the states that held preferential primaries, LaFollette took two, and Taft only one.

The 1912 primaries represented the first extensive use of the presidential primary, a reform achievement of the progressive movement.

However, these primary elections, while demonstrating Roosevelt's continuing popularity with the electorate, were not nearly as pivotal as primaries became later in the century.

There were fewer states where a common voter had an opportunity to express a recorded preference.

Many more states selected convention delegates at state party conventions, or in caucuses, which were not as open as they later became.

While Roosevelt was popular with the public, most Republican politicians and party leaders supported Taft, and their support proved difficult to counter in states without primaries.