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I've gotten back to reading The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln, I read the Workingman and Nullifer chapters in the last few days, basically everything up to the election of 1832 and the beginning of Jackson's second term. I've enjoyed learning about the obscure political parties (might as well call them sects given their magnificently tiny strength), the feudal aristocracies that hold their grips on Virginia and South Carolina, and The Bank War. But what I always pay attention to the most is the Presidential elections. Here I learned that the Anti-Masons nominated Wirt 3 months before the National Republicans nominated Clay (a Mason himself).

Now, what are the chances that Clay, deciding to be the sneak that Jackson accused him, decided to stay in Congress and maneuver Wirt as also the N. Republican nominee. Basically an early Whig Party without the other various anti-Jacksonians (most prominently the Nullifiers in the South who only broke with Jackson fully after 1833 began). Wirt himself was no enemy of the Masons (being one himself, yes it's very weird but he was the Anti-Mason Party nominee) but would the his first party except this alliance with Clay? Would their hatred of King Jackass be stronger then the then distrust of each other? Could the Anti-Jacksonites in the South, if not support them outright, procure some Electoral Votes for this ticket come time to fight against the seemingly Centralist Jackson?

Also, given that most of the South was unchallenged by Clay or Wirt (Mississippi, Missouri, Georgia, and Alabama), could we see an actual fight down there, as well as take some of the lost states up North (like 30 vote Pennsylvania, the home of the former Second Nation Bank)? I'll admit that the book didn't cover this very much but I think that the combined forces could have a chance of beating Jackson as his re-election wasn't an assured thing given all that was going on. (Not they'd need it, if this hypothetical ticket took New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia it would have 145 out of 144 EV needed to win. THAT would cause a ruckus very likely.)

And one final topic. Wirt died in 1834, no sure how. If he died during office who would be his chosen VP (and thus first likely VP to ascend to the office)? This could also be potentially a big change in the office of the Vice-Presidency, as a less bullheaded man then Tyler might be less inclined to declare themselves President, and may by precedent change how the office acts in the future.
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