Democratic Leader Quotes
In May of 1844 the Democratic National Convention was deadlocked between ex-President Martin Van Buren and Lewis Cass. On the 9th ballot they turned to a dark horse, James K. Polk. The odds-on favorite, however, was the Whig nominee, and great statesman, Henry Clay, who was informed of the Democrat's choice:. Clay soon learned, in one of the great American political upsets in American history.