Wasn't WJB also of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party?You need someone other than Wilson to be nominated by the Democrats for TR to have a realistic shot at winning. Wilson, like TR, was a Progressive. For TR to win, he needed Progressive Democrats to vote for him. But with a Progressive candidate of their own, they largely didn't. If the Democrats had nominated someone like William Jennings Bryant, then yes, I think TR could have won.
He was, sorta. In some areas he was Conservative. In others progressive. Wilson was definitely more progressive than Jennings though.Wasn't WJB also of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party?
He ended up as Secretary of state?He was, sorta. In some areas he was Conservative. In others progressive. Wilson was definitely more progressive than Jennings though.
That was Wilson rewarding him for his support in the election.He ended up as Secretary of state?
But he opposed intervention in WWI, so at least on that issue, he was more progressive then Wilson, no?That was Wilson rewarding him for his support in the election.
I don't see how that's being more Progressive. He was an isolationist and an anti-imperialist. That doesn't necessarily make him ProgressiveBut he opposed intervention in WWI, so at least on that issue, he was more progressive then Wilson, no?
What about Champ Clark as the Democratic nominee?
What if more than just 12 States held a Primary in 1912? TR won 9 of the Primaries held, 8 in landslides. That may give him the steam he needs to win the 1912 Republican Nomination
I'm not saying to completely overturn it. But if more States held primaries, it would have given TR more delegates. IOTL, he had 466. He needed 540 to win. During the Primaries, he won 278. A few more States hold a Primary, and he gets the 74 delegates he needsIt would be another 60 years before primaries really became the deciding factor in party nominations, and they were still a rather new thing at this time. I think it'd be too early to completely overturn the authority of party leadership at this time.
You need someone other than Wilson to be nominated by the Democrats for TR to have a realistic shot at winning. Wilson, like TR, was a Progressive. For TR to win, he needed Progressive Democrats to vote for him. But with a Progressive candidate of their own, they largely didn't. If the Democrats had nominated someone like William Jennings Bryant, then yes, I think TR could have won.