The initial favorite for the Republican nomination was the previous nominee , James G. Blaine of Maine . After Blaine wrote several letters denying any interest in the nomination , his supporters divided among other candidates , with John Sherman of Ohio as the leader among them . Others , including Chauncey Depew of New York , Russell Alger of Michigan , and Harrison 's old nemesis Walter Q. Gresham , now a federal appellate court judge in Chicago , also sought the delegates ' support at the 1888 Republican National Convention . Blaine did not publicly endorse any of the candidates as a successor ; however , on March 1 , 1888 , he privately wrote that " the one man remaining who in my judgment can make the best one is Benjamin Harrison . " Harrison placed fifth on the first ballot , with Sherman in the lead , and the next few ballots showed little change . The Blaine supporters shifted their support among candidates they found acceptable , and when they shifted to Harrison , they found a candidate who could attract the votes of many other delegations . He was nominated as the party 's presidential candidate on the eighth ballot , by a count of 544 to 108 votes . Levi P. Morton of New York was chosen as his running mate
1888 Republican National Convention
1888 Republican National Convention
Benjamin Harrison