| William McKinley received the nomination on the first ballot at the Republican convention in St. Louis, in June of 1896. William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska won the nomination of the Democrats in Chicago in July. The Democrats plank supported the free coinage of silver. The currency issue dominated the election campaign. The campaign was marked by contrasts. Bryan criss-crossed the country making personal appearances. Bryan was accused of lacking dignity. Byran answered that "I would rather have it said that I lacked dignity than that I lacked backbone to meet the enemies of the government who works against its welfare from Wall Street". McKinley stayed home and ran a front porch campaign where thousands of people came to his home and heard him speak, In the campaign Byran was depicted as a "radical and socialist", while McKinley was called a "tool of business". McKinley raised 3 million (mostly from business interests) as compared to 600,000 raised by Byran. McKinley won the election.
Participation of Eligible Voters: 79.3%
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