1868: Conkling vs. Tweed

[Robert California]

In 1868, with General Grant backing out of the race for the Republican nomination, a number of his Stalwarts turn to Radical Republican, Senator Roscoe Conkling of New York, himself a former Grant support. To balance out the ticket with a Mid-Westerner, Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax is selected for Vice President. Meanwhile, at the dead-locked 1868 Democratic National Convention, after several ballots and Horatio Seymour's utter refusal to be nominated, a "corrupt bargain" is struck that allows for the nomination of Tammany Hall's own Boss Tweed for President. In order to give the ticket "legitimacy", Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase is selected for Vice President. Reformers, "Half-breeds", and all the rest are left without a serious choice in the election.

Senator Roscoe Conkling (Republican-New York)/Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Schuyler Colfax (Republican-Indiana)

vs.

Former Congressman and Head of Tammany Hall William M. "Boss" Tweed (Democrat-New York)/Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase (Democrat-Ohio)

[Kamala-Tim 2024]

I'll be voting for The Baby's godfather.

[Robert California]

I'm wondering how New York would vote in this, though assuming it's anything like the actual 1868 election (with Seymour taking it despite losing handily), then Tweed might win it.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Tweed pulls out all the stops in New York City, but Conkling has the support of Albany and Upstate.  While Tweed has very little appeal to most of the country, Chase helps him.  Conkling is seen as too radical by some who would have come out to support a successful general, but manages a win.

Conkling/Colfax 202  51.4%
Tweed/Chase 92 48.6%