1812

The election of 1812 was the first war time election of a President. It began a tradition that has continued in reelecting war time Presidents. The war, had begun a month before Madison was renominated and as there have been in all America's war there were many who opposed either the war or how it was being prosecuted. Dewitt Clinton of New York was selected to by the Federalist. He hoped to defeat Madison by both attacking him as both for fighting the war and for not fighting the war hard enough. He also hoped to win support of those opposed to having another term with a Virginian President. In the end the country was not willing to change Presidents in the middle of a war and Madison was reelected by a comfotable majority.