In the 1860 election the South Democratic candidate, John C. Breckinridge did not really campaign. In past elections it was about parties and parades to get out the vote. In 1860, Breckinridge knew he had the South locked up and would not get votes in the North. The only way he could win was for the Northern Democratic candidate, Stephen Douglass, to take enough northern states away from Lincoln. In the end Lincoln won almost every northern state and won the day.
Historically Speaking 