McKinley was elected governor in November 1891 , and the Republicans took a two-thirds majority in the legislature . During the campaign , supporters of both Foraker and Sherman had sought pledges from candidates , and in the aftermath of the legislative elections , both men expressed confidence . Sherman was handicapped by his age ( 68 ) , unpopularity , and a cold personality ; according to Horner , " Foraker was simply more of a man of the people than Sherman could ever hope to be . " Sherman 's aide , Jacob C. Donaldson , later wrote , " the situation was bad , almost desperate " . Hanna had made significant campaign contributions to legislative candidates , and was outraged when legislators believed to favor Sherman instead announced that they would vote for Foraker ; according to his biographer , Herbert Croly , " The situation looked desperate ; but it was saved , so Mr. Sherman himself stated to his friends , by Mr. Hanna 's energy , enthusiasm and ability to bend other men to his will . Three of the Cleveland representatives , who had gone into hiding , were unearthed and forced into line . " Donaldson noted , " Several of them were ruined by their perfidy . " Foraker was defeated narrowly in the Republican caucus , first on a vote to hold a secret ballot ( which would have benefited him ) , and then on the endorsement vote , which supported Sherman , who was subsequently elected by the legislature . According to Horner , " It is difficult to know which mattered more to Hanna — making sure his old friend Sherman kept his job or making sure that Foraker did not get it . " Sherman was not magnanimous in victory , telling friends that he would not rest until he " tomahawked the last of Foraker 's crowd " . Nevertheless , at the Republican state convention , Foraker and his supporters were able to gain their goal of half the delegates-at-large to the 1892 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis , free to vote as they pleased . President Harrison was seeking renomination ; other men spoken of as possible candidates were Blaine ( who had again disclaimed any interest in running ) and McKinley . Prior to the Minneapolis convention , Hanna wrote to Foraker for the first time in four years , seeking to put aside differences in support of McKinley . Foraker agreed ; he disliked Harrison and did not feel he could be re-elected . McKinley finished third for the nomination , a fraction of a vote behind Blaine . Harrison was defeated by Cleveland in the November election , and McKinley was spoken of as the most likely Republican presidential contender for 1896
1892 Republican National Convention
1892 Republican National Convention
Joseph B. Foraker