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President Grant was renominated, without opposition, at the Republican convention at Philadelphia in June 1872. The Republican platform condemned racial and religious discrimination and called for granting women greater rights. President Grant's opponent was Horace Greeley of New York. He was first nominated by the "Liberal Republicans" who wished to protest the corruption of the Grant administration. The Democrats were in such disarray that they were unable to select a candidate and therefore endorsed Greeley.
Greeley had been the editor of the New York Tribune and was an eccentric figure at that. He had at various time been a supporter of spiritualism, prohibition, vegetaranism and socialism, and thus an easy target of Republican attacks..
Greeley's campaign primarily on the theme of "more honest government". He also campaigned for and end of radical reconstruction. Greeley received support from most of the South, while Grant received support from most Northerners and most business interests. Most Americans still found Grant popular, and were convinced that he was not responsible for the corruption in his administration. Thus, they re-elected Grant.
Participation of Eligible Voters: 71.3%
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