Lincoln's campaign team decides to capitalize on his "homefield advantage" in Chicago by printing duplicate tickets and organizing a large group of supporters to cheer loudly. What did you think of this tactic?

Because the Republican convention was in Chicago, Lincoln's campaign team decides to capitalize on his "homefield advantage" by printing duplicate tickets to the event and organizing a large group of supporters to cheer loudly every time his name was mentioned. What did you think of this tactic?

I’m old enough to remember political conventions where the candidate wasn’t already declared when the convention started. Reading about the duplicate tickets and the cheering supporters took me back to the old process, black and white television coverage of the political conventions; the book reminded me that there was a lot of dealing being done on the convention floor. Times have changed! Lincoln’s “home advantage” was key to his selection.

I don't think Lincoln would have ever come up with this strategy himself, but if that is what it took for him to get the nomination it is a good thing that his supporters were a bit devious.

It sounds like excellent marketing. As for a tactic, I think that if the participants did so to support the hometown advantage (so to speak), and were not getting paid to do so, then it is fair game. Once a payment in exchange for feigned loyalty transpires, I then think of it as deceptive.

And let's not forget the bold lies that were spoken about Lincoln by his opponent at the convention and the character degradation he had to endure. The historical account seems to show us that Lincoln did not let it phase him but also did not stoop to these tactics. The Lincoln team aggressively marketed their candidate but they did not, it appears, misrepresent the opponent. Hometown people supporting their hometown candidate is acceptable (the printing of additional tickets is a bit underhanded, but nothing that I have seen says it was more than a grass roots effort to support their candidate. If they had used their additional supporters to start unsubstantiated rumors from the convention floor about the opponent, they would be no better than the other side of the floor.)

I wasn't surprised by the tactic. I think politics in every age, the candidate is trying to seek out the advantage and frequently is skirting the edge of what is "right" and sometimes what is legal.
I also think that hometown candidates frequently have the advantage. Living in NH, I've seen a lot of presidential candidates come through, and those from New England usually fair better in the state than they do elsewhere in the country.

I agree with BookLady78. I also would compare it to the current state of our televised “town halls”, where a candidate has packed the floor with his supporters, effectively making the town hall into nothing more than a campaign rally and virtually useless to those looking for a meaningful discussion.

Considering the time and place it was a great strategy since he was not much of a self-promoter.

I thought it was a brilliant marketing strategy for that time period.

Sad to say, politics is a dirty business and always has been. I didn't like that this was done and certainly hope that Lincoln didn't endorse it.

BuffaloGirl, you and I think similarly, not only on the question, but an earlier one. Whether it's the handlers or the actual candidate, I don't like the dirty politics.

I am not sure whose ides it was but I don't think he wold have thought of it. He was above tactics like that. Similar tactics in primaries have existed in times since then.

I didn't perceive it as dirty politics and it happens all the time--any candidate and handlers will play up any advantage they have. And, furthermore, the voters are smart enough to recognize it--hardly a deal breaker.

It seems like smart politics to me.