Lincoln was probably the best, but not like that good. The other comments do a good job breaking that down but I want to add another criticism of Lincoln.
Picking Andrew Johnson, a democrat who shared 0 beliefs with the republican party except being pro-Union, the ultimate "work across the aisle" modern Dem move, was such a fucking disaster. Him becoming president absolutely fucked reconstruction.
I really don't think having Hamlin on the ballot would have drastically changed the election and a president Hamlin would have been far superior to what we got. Not to mention he didn't even end up carrying some of the border states (NJ and KY). But that doesn't sound familiar.
Lincoln, pioneer of fucking over party principles to gain power, ultimately losing any power in the process.
Lincoln was probably the best, but not like that good. The other comments do a good job breaking that down but I want to add another criticism of Lincoln.
Picking Andrew Johnson, a democrat who shared 0 beliefs with the republican party except being pro-Union, the ultimate "work across the aisle" modern Dem move, was such a fucking disaster. Him becoming president absolutely fucked reconstruction.
I really don't think having Hamlin on the ballot would have drastically changed the election and a president Hamlin would have been far superior to what we got. Not to mention he didn't even end up carrying some of the border states (NJ and KY). But that doesn't sound familiar.
Lincoln, pioneer of fucking over party principles to gain power, ultimately losing any power in the process.