Prior to the 1912 Republican National Convention in Chicago , Roosevelt expressed doubt about his prospects for victory , noting that Taft had more delegates and control of the credentials committee . His only hope was to convince party leaders that the nomination of Taft would hand the election to the Democrats , but party leaders were determined not to cede their leadership to Roosevelt . The credentials committee awarded almost all contested delegates to Taft , and Taft won the nomination on the first ballot . Black delegates from the South played a key role : they voted heavily for Taft and put him over the top . La Follette also helped Taft 's candidacy ; he hoped that a deadlocked convention would result in his own nomination , and refused to release his delegates to support Roosevelt
1912 Republican National Convention
1912 Republican National Convention
Theodore Roosevelt