The initial favorite for the Republican nomination in the 1888 presidential election was James G. Blaine , the party 's nominee in the 1884 presidential election . 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 Walter Q. Gresham , a a federal appellate judge , 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 represented Indiana in the United States Senate from 1881 to 1887 , but lost his 1886 bid for re-election . In February 1888 , Harrison announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination , declaring himself a " living and rejuvenated Republican . " He placed fifth on the first ballot at the 1888 Republican convention , with Sherman in the lead ; the next few ballots showed little change . The Blaine supporters shifted their support among different candidates , and when they shifted to Harrison , they found a candidate who could attract the votes of many other delegations . Harrison 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
Presidency of Benjamin Harrison