[Grand Old Partisan]

Lincoln was not a complete unknown when nominated for President in 1860. In fact, he had come in second for the vice presidential nomination four years earlier. The Democrat press loved to mock candidate Lincoln, but most of his opponents who actually knew him were in awe. Stephen Douglas, his northern Democrat opponent, said publicly -- Can you imagine this being done today? -- "You have nominated a very honest and a very able man." Douglas even held Lincoln's hat as he was being sworn in! After losing to him the 1860 presidential nomination, William Seward sent his campaign manager, a life-long friend, to check Lincoln out; the man reported back: "Abraham Lincoln is the best man I ever met."

[nolu chan]

[GOP] Lincoln was not a complete unknown when nominated for President in 1860. In fact, he had come in second for the vice presidential nomination four years earlier.

I dunno GOP. Check out this quote:

He joined our Republican Party in 1856 and came in third place for our Party's vice presidential nomination that year.

Cite Back to Basics for the Republican Party, 3 Ed., p.26