Douglas trailed only Lincoln in the popular vote

kjc0123 | 04:01 Fri 26th Nov 2004 | Phrases & Sayings

2 Answers

What is the meaning of "Douglas trailed only Lincoln in the popular vote" in the following sentences?

Lincoln and Douglas competed in the North, and Breckenridge and Bell in the South. Lincoln won only 39 percent of the popular vote, but had a clear majority of 180 electoral votes, carrying all 18 free states. Bell won Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia; Breckenridge took the other slave states except for Missouri, which was won by Douglas. Despite his poor electoral showing, Douglas trailed only Lincoln in the popular vote.

strike the kenote

borne the battle

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bernardo

Douglas had fewer votes than Lincoln (but had more votes than everybody else).

The bit which says "in the popular vote" refers to the votes cast by the people, not the votes cast by the electoral college in electing the president.

Peter Pedant

Yeah, trailing someone is to follow them.

If Douglas trailed only Lincoln, then Lincoln led and Douglas was second.

If you have been following Bush's re-election, you will have a good idea about Electoral Colleges and so on, the system hasn't changed much.

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