Near Unanimous Bryan 1896 wins in the Rocky Mountain States

[Skill and Chance]

William Jennings Bryan won 75-85% of the vote in NV, UT, CO, ID and MT in 1896.  Most of these were Weaver states in 1892 and MT actually went Republican then.  When Bryan ran again in 1900, he actually lost UT after breaking 82% in the previous cycle. I know the Democrats formally threw their lot in with Free Silver for 1896 and the issue faded by 1900, but that is a heck of a swing in a single cycle.  Could it be a quirk of the small voting populations there at the time?   

[Skill and Chance]

Curiously, the 1896 and 1900 elections are probably the closest parallels we have to 2008 and 2012 in American history.  Relatively close, polarized elections immediately following an economic crisis with one party having a huge EC advantage (that ultimately didn't matter).