There were no primaries in 1860 , no way to be certain how many delegates a candidate might receive . Nevertheless , going into the 1860 Republican National Convention in May in Chicago , Seward was seen as the overwhelming favorite . Others spoken of for the nomination included Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase , former Missouri congressman Edward Bates , and former Illinois congressman Abraham Lincoln
1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
William H. Seward