Changes

After Chester Arthur served out the presidential term for the late James Garfield, Republicans were so unhappy with Arthur that they did not renominate him.  Meanwhile, the Democratic Party -- which had not won a presidential election in nearly 30 years -- turned to a conservative candidate from the Republican State of New York: Grover Cleveland.  The Democrats hoped that by nominating the conservative Grover Cleveland they could pick up some Republican support and finally win a presidential election.

After Chester Arthur served out the presidential term for the late James Garfield, Republicans were so unhappy with Arthur that they did not renominate him.  Meanwhile, the Democratic Party -- which had not won a presidential election in nearly 30 years -- turned to a conservative candidate from the Republican State of New York: Grover Cleveland.  The Democrats hoped that by nominating the conservative Grover Cleveland they could pick up some Republican support and finally win a presidential election.

His opponent was the Republican Senator James Blaine from Maine, who was a liberal (or a "moderate").  Blaine is best known today for his opposition to funding by States of religiously affiliated schools (and particularly Catholic schools).  In 1875, Blaine tried to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit States from providing any funding to religiously affiliated elementary and high schools.  When that failed, his "Blaine Amendment" was incorporated into 36 State Constitutions, where they remain today and frustrate school voucher programs.<ref>http://pewforum.org/events/rss.php?EventID=194</ref>  A referendum in Florida in 2012 to establish school vouchers and to repeal the Blaine Amendment in the Florida Constitution failed by a vote of 55-45%.

His opponent was the Republican Senator James Blaine from Maine, who was a liberal (or a "moderate").  Blaine is best known today for his opposition to funding by States of religiously affiliated schools (and particularly Catholic schools).  In 1875, Blaine tried to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit States from providing any funding to religiously affiliated elementary and high schools.  When that failed, his "Blaine Amendment" was incorporated into 36 State Constitutions, where they remain today and frustrate school voucher programs.<ref>http://pewforum.org/events/rss.php?EventID=194</ref>  A referendum in Florida in 2012 to repeal the Blaine Amendment in the Florida Constitution (and enable full school vouchers) failed by a vote of 55-45%.

Some key eastern Republicans opposed James Blaine in 1884 due to scandals, and supported Grover Cleveland for president instead.  These Republicans were known as the "Mugwumps"; they felt Blaine could not be trusted, and they were probably right!  The defection by the Mugwumps to support Cleveland enabled him to win his key home state of New York, despite its Republican tradition at the time.  (Today New York is very Democratic.)

Some key eastern Republicans opposed James Blaine in 1884 due to scandals, and supported Grover Cleveland for president instead.  These Republicans were known as the "Mugwumps"; they felt Blaine could not be trusted, and they were probably right!  The defection by the Mugwumps to support Cleveland enabled him to win his key home state of New York, despite its Republican tradition at the time.  (Today New York is very Democratic.)