While we're waiting for the 2012 presidential election let's take a look at some of the previous races to the White House. This month's resident loser is
James Blaine from Maine. The year is
1884.
The Democrat Grover Cleveland narrowly defeated Republican James Blaine in popular votes (48.5% against 48.2%). In electoral votes the score was 219-182.
James Gillespie Blaine (1830-1893)
facts of interest:
- The first election of a Democrat as President since 1856.
- If in New York 575 voters (from the 1.167.169) would have voted for Blaine instead of Cleveland the latter would have lost the election (source).
- After newspapers reported that Cleveland had fathered a child out of wedlock and that the child had gone to an orphanage, Blaine's supporters started singing Ma, Ma, Where's my Pa?
After Cleveland's victory, his supporters would respond with
Gone to the White House Ha, Ha, Ha.
next episode: Marie-Denis
I think there was a lot of that 'out of wedlock' going on - and always has, whatever their political leanings. The cartoon is cleverly drawn.
ReplyDeleteOut of wedlock is one thing, but an orphanage is another.
ReplyDeleteIf things had gone another way, the high school near me might have been named James Blaine High School instead of Grover Cleveland.
Interesting -- the losers usually don't get a lot of attention.
ReplyDelete