Jackson decided to retire after 2 terms, so Vice President Martin Van Buren decided to run as a Democrat.
By this time the Whig Party had formed, and they had a interesting strategy for this election. They elected two nominees, the first being William Henry Harrison. Harrison was suppose to defeat Van Buren in the Northern States.
While Hugh Lawson White was suppose to defeat Van Buren in the Southern States. The Whig Party would then pick the better of the two if Van Buren lost. Daniel Webster and Willie Person Magnum took a state each as a presidential candidate. They campaigned hard against Van Buren and even upset the Senate in which he was in charge of.
Because of the bizarre nominee practice, the Vice President race was thrown into the Senate. Richard M. Johnson got the most, but not the up-most majority.
Despite that, Johnson was easily elected in the Senate versus Whig Francis Granger.
The odd strategy proved to be an easy victory for Van Buren. A split Whig vote left him 170 electoral votes versus Harrison's 73, White's 26, Webster's 14, and Magnum's 11.
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