| At the Democratic convention in Baltimore in May 1844, the expected candidate was former President Van Buren. However, he didn't receive the required 2/3 vote and as a result the convention seemed near a deadlock. Finally on the ninth ballot the convention swung behind James Polk. This was the first time that a dark horse (an unknown) was nominated.
The Democratic party endorsed a platform that called for the annexation of Texas and the reoccupation of Oregon. It also stood against federal improvement and the resurrection of the bank of US. The Whigs nominated Henry Clay unanimously.
In April of 1844, President Tyler had dropped his "Texas bombshell" as it had become known when he submitted a treaty for the annexation of Texas. This framed the election campaign. Questions of Manifest Destiny and Slavery dominated the campaign.
Clay was the early front runner, and expected to have an easy victory. His opposition to the annexation of Texas lost him support in the South, and a third party abolitionist candidate named James Bireny siphoned off enough support in the North to hurt Clay. The election was very personal with newspaper attacks calling Polk a coward and Clay a drunkard. Polk was able to win a small victory.
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