A contested convention is nothing new.

1860 was a significant year in American politics.

Abraham Lincoln was NOT the presumptive nominee going into the Republican convention.  William H. Seward was expected to be the nominee.  Many of the delegates to the convention, however, feared that Seward had alienated too many in the Party.  He was closely identified with the radical faction of the Party, and his attempt to “appear more Presidential” by moderating his positions and moving toward the center alienated that faction of the Party.

Still, going into the first ballot, Seward was the odds-on favorite.

Seward lead Lincoln by a wide margin on the first ballot, but didn’t have enough support to win.  On the second ballot, the delegates from Pennsylvania switched to Lincoln.  It put him in a near tie with Seward and gave him upward momentum in the voting.  Lincoln supporters had worked feverishly prior to the balloting to gain the support of the “anti-Seward” delegates.  It was beginning to pay off.

On the third ballot, Lincoln gained enough additional support from delegates to win the nomination, despite appearances going in to the convention.

The process had worked, and America was on her way to electing a man who is arguably one of the greatest Presidents in the history of our country.

Does this short history lesson sounds strikingly similar to the current contest for the nomination?  It should give us hope that the system of delegates chosen by the votes of the people can, indeed, reach a conclusion that is beneficial for America.

Lincoln wasn’t the front runner.  He wasn’t the first choice.  He was, however, the BEST choice.

There is also a BEST choice in the current race.

“It’s not about right or left, it’s about Right or Wrong.”

Please…

Pray

Pitch in a few bucks to help… click the “donate” button

“friend” me on facebook for daily updates

Learn more about Gordon: Texas Longhorn Cattle, Real Estate, Music and Politics at www.ghowie.com