Partially correct. However we are looking at a backwoods lawyer who was splitting with the power group in his state and was able to attract a following that escalated to a national group that was able to beat the entrenched power structure at a national level. Remember the Whigs (and Democrats) had been around for a hundred years and had powerful men at all levels of government. And yet they could not keep the party together.
The important fact here is that Lincoln was a LEADER. If there exists such a person now in the 20 million Rush listeners, then it is very possible to have a major party within two years, especially with the bs that the Zero is doing. The need for a leader is key to the process.
The important fact here is that Lincoln was a LEADER. If there exists such a person now There's the rub. Where the hell is the leader? And the other poster is correct. Lincoln won because the vote was split four ways.
Perhaps what Rush should be doing is funding/growing the Green Party, to split the leftist vote.