WI James Buchanan dies before the 1856 election, or maybe doesn't want to run because he's been appointed to the SCOTUS or something.
OTL President Pierce and Stephen A Douglas were the other main contenders, but with the Kansas-Nebraska Act hanging round their necks could either have been nominated, and if not where does the convention turn?
Ideally, I'd like either Edwin M Stanton or Benjamin F Butler, but don't think either is likely. Above all, is there any hope of the Dems choosing someone with the smarts to reject the Lecompton Constitution?
Thoughts?