Tennessee 's governor had limited power — there was no gubernatorial veto , and the small size of the state government limited any political patronage . But Polk saw the office as a springboard for his national ambitions , seeking to be nominated as Van Buren 's vice presidential running mate at the 1840 Democratic National Convention in Baltimore in May . Polk hoped to be the replacement if Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson was dumped from the ticket ; Johnson was disliked by many Southern whites for fathering two daughters by a biracial mistress , and attempting to introduce them into white society . Johnson was from Kentucky , so Polk 's Tennessee residence would keep the New Yorker Van Buren 's ticket balanced . The convention chose to endorse no one for vice president , stating that a choice would be made once the popular vote was cast . Three weeks after the convention , recognizing that Johnson was too popular in the party to be ousted , Polk withdrew his name . The Whig presidential candidate , General William Henry Harrison , conducted a rollicking campaign with the motto " Tippecanoe and Tyler Too " , easily winning both the national vote and that in Tennessee . Polk campaigned in vain for Van Buren and was embarrassed by the outcome ; Jackson , who had returned to his home , the Hermitage , near Nashville , was horrified at the prospect of a Whig administration . Harrison 's death after a month in office in 1841 left the presidency to Vice President John Tyler , who soon broke with the Whigs
1840 Democratic National Convention
1840 Democratic National Convention
James K. Polk