 Harrison was unpopular with the party and the country , and many of Blaine 's old supporters encouraged him to run for the nomination . Blaine had denied any interest in the nomination months before his resignation , but some of his friends , including Senator Matthew Quay of Pennsylvania and James S. Clarkson , chairman of the Republican National Committee , took it for false modesty and worked for his nomination anyway . When Blaine resigned from the cabinet , his boosters were certain that he was a candidate , but the majority of the party stood by the incumbent . Harrison was renominated on the first ballot , but die @-@ hard Blaine delegates still gave their champion 182 and 1 / 6 votes , good enough for second place . 
