| | ===1862 midterm defeat, 1864 comeback=== | | ===1862 midterm defeat, 1864 comeback=== |
| | In the 1862 elections, Conkling ran under the banner of the Unionist Party and faced Democrat Francis Kernan, who very narrowly won the general election.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725371 NY District 21 Race - Nov 04, 1862]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> However, he successfully re-emerged in 1864, ousting Kernan.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725372 NY District 21 Race - Nov 08, 1864]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> In the latter race, he received the endorsement of President [[Abraham Lincoln]], who stated:<ref name=remarkableroscoept1/> | | In the 1862 elections, Conkling ran under the banner of the Unionist Party and faced Democrat Francis Kernan, who very narrowly won the general election.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725371 NY District 21 Race - Nov 04, 1862]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> However, he successfully re-emerged in 1864, ousting Kernan.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725372 NY District 21 Race - Nov 08, 1864]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 19, 2021.</ref> In the latter race, he received the endorsement of President [[Abraham Lincoln]], who stated:<ref name=remarkableroscoept1/> |
| | {{cquote|I am for the regular nominee in all cases… no one could be more satisfactory to me as the nominee in that District, than Mr. Conkling. I do not mean to say there are not others as good as he is… but I think I know him to be at least good enough.|||President Abraham Lincoln, 1864}} | | {{cquote|I am for the regular nominee in all cases… no one could be more satisfactory to me as the nominee in that District, than Mr. Conkling. I do not mean to say there are not others as good as he is… but I think I know him to be at least good enough.|||President Abraham Lincoln, 1864}} |