As in 1884, the election focused on the swing states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Indiana. But unlike that year, when Cleveland had triumphed in all four, in 1888 he won only two, losing his home state of New York by 14,373 votes. Cleveland won a plurality of the popular vote – 48.6 percent vs. 47.8 percent for Harrison – but Harrison won the Electoral College vote easily, 233–168.[170] The Republicans won Indiana, largely as the result of a fraudulent voting practice known as Blocks of Five.[171] Cleveland continued his duties diligently until the end of the term and began to look forward to returning to private life.[172]

Private citizen for four years
As Frances Cleveland left the White House, she told a staff member, "Now, Jerry, I want you to take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house, for I want to find everything just as it is now, when we come back again."When asked when she would return, she responded, "We are coming back four years from today.