 William H. West of Ohio nominated Blaine with an enthusiastic speech and after the first ballot , Blaine led the count with 334 ½ votes . While short of the necessary 417 for nomination , Blaine had far more than any other candidate with Arthur in second place at 278 votes . Blaine was unacceptable to the Arthur delegates just as Blaine 's own delegates would never vote for the President , so the contest was between the two for the delegates of the remaining candidates . Blaine 's total steadily increased as Logan and Sherman withdrew in his favor and some of the Edmunds delegates defected to him . Unlike in previous conventions , the momentum for Blaine in 1884 would not be halted . On the fourth ballot , Blaine received 541 votes and was , at last , nominated . Logan was named vice presidential nominee on the first ballot , and the Republicans had their ticket . 
