Inspired by some recent TLs with interesting split conventions. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create a major (Democrat or Republican) Party convention that lasts more than the 103 ballots of 1924's Democrats, and goes over a month (which that went). The conditions to get bonuses are a tad tougher because this is pre-1900 (1900 convention included in post-1900):
1. There must be a winner in the end, though other candidates may break off;
2. The pary's nominee must win at least 2 states (or one and D.C.).
So, there can be a landslide, but the party can't dissolve (though there could be many candidates - see number 2 below), and can't do worse than Mondale in '84, Landon in '36, or McGovern in '72. However, you get some major bonus points:
1. Some bonus if your party's candidate either wins the Presidency, or one of the ones that that party refused wins. (Easier before parties were founded, so this is more of a bonus the longer you go after 1832)
2. Not many bonus points if you create a 3-4 way race for the White House. But, some. More if you create a 5-way race or more, as few if any have done that in TLs.
3. Bonus points also if you can do this *without* splitting a party.
4. Bonus points for each day you take the convention past Labor Day, the traditional start of the Presidental Campaign season. (Meaning it still must start in August.)
5. Bonus points if you can do this post 1868, as slavery makes it pretty easy in a way earlier, though you don't lose huge points for using that.
Have fun!