Abraham Lincoln: A Third Party Candidate?

[Thomas Thorne]

Dear Roger,you are right and Bill Moyers is wrong.

1856 Presidential Election
National Popular Vote Electoral Vote
Dem 45.3% 174
Rep 33.1% 114
Whig&American 21.6% 8

Party Divisions United States Congress 1855-1859
Senate 1855 House 1855
Dem 39 Dem 83
Rep 22 Rep 108
Other 1 Other 43

Senate 1857 House 1857
Dem 39 Dem 131
Rep 20 Rep 94
Other 5 Other 13


Senate 1859 House 1859
Dem 38 Dem 101
Rep 26 Rep 113
Other 2 Other 23

Note that after prolonged deadlocks, the House of Representatives chose Republicans as Speakers of the House by pluralities in the 34th[1855} and 36th {1859} congresses.
Tom