 Despite including a Stalwart on the ticket , animosity between the Republican factions carried over from the convention , and Garfield traveled to New York to meet with party leaders there . After convincing the Stalwart crowd to put aside their differences and unite for the coming campaign , Garfield returned to Ohio , leaving the active campaigning to others , as was traditional at the time . Meanwhile , the Democrats settled on their nominee , Major General Winfield Scott Hancock of Pennsylvania , a career military officer . Hancock and the Democrats expected to carry the Solid South , while much of the North was considered safe territory for Garfield and the Republicans ; most of the campaign would involve a few close states , including New York and Indiana . 
