1912

Woodrow Wilson
Candidate
Popular
Electoral
Woodrow Wilson
Democrat
6,293,152
435
Theodore Roosevelt
Progressive
4,119,207
88
William H. Taft
Republican
3,486,333
8
Eugene V. Debs
Socialist
900,369
0
Woodrow Wilson, 1912, by the Pach Brothers
from the Libr. of Congress Prints & Photographs Div.
There You Are Bill | Come On Hand it Back

32A-1067056

Who Said Taft?

32B-1067057

The campaign of 1912 was essentially finished at the close of the nominating conventions. Taft and Roosevelt had split ( 32A-106705632B-1067057) When Taft received the Republican nomination, Roosevelt was chosen by the liberal Progressive Party, better known as the Bull Moose Party (32C-1067058).

Roosevelt came under much fire for running for a third term; he was accused of being everything from a monarchist to the "reckless destroyer of the country." (32D-106705932E-106706032F-106706132G-1067062) Wilson, the Democratic candidate, was generally popular, and his "schoolmaster" image, although caricatured by cartoonists, was not as apparent as some would have it (32H-1067063). Taft ran on his record; in this cartoonist's opinion, Columbia sees "no reason why she should change." (32I-1067064) 

Minor parties continued to offer candidates. Eugene Debs ran for president five times, from 1900 to 1920, on the Socialist Party ticket. Here, Bryan, in the bushes, tells Debs, in the water, referring to Theodore Roosevelt, "Say, Debs, he's hooked everything that belonged to me, and now he's gone off with yours," meaning liberal Roosevelt's capture of the votes of the Progressives and Socialists who were once followers of Bryan and Debs (32J-1067065). However, Wilson was the winner in 1912.