Harold Crumpley: History provides clues to this election season

Has there ever been a successful presidential candidate who didn’t have a constituency at the beginning of the election cycle? The answer is yes: Abraham Lincoln. He was not an abolitionist but a Whig, who had taken a stand against slavery out west. Taking advantage of the chaos in the political parties and through subterfuge and deal-making, Lincoln and his operatives gained the Republican nomination in 1860. He went on to become the “Great Emancipator” and his party became the “Grand Old Party,” credited with standing by the Union in its darkest hour.

Our political party system, with a few refinements, has endured since that time.

Is Donald Trump a new Lincoln? Hardly, but there are similarities between what he’s up to and what Lincoln did “seven score and 16” years ago. Instead of a constituency, all today’s candidate needs is a billionaire – himself or someone else – for support. Thanks to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision – allowing unlimited private money – we might have a multitude of rich candidates vying for our top office. The question remains: how can they get a majority of electoral votes without a party? Maybe we are getting back to the original intent – the reason for the Electoral College.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Harold Crumpley: History provides clues to this election season."