He also didn’t have a single vote south of the Mason-Dixon. He was president in the North, and only just barely that, winning Illinois with 53 percent, Iowa, with 54, Indiana with 51, Ohio with 51, New York with 53, etc.
He remains the only president elected with only 30 percent of the total vote, since South carolina was excluded from the election.
Lincoln won absolute majorities in those states in spite of the fact that there were as many as 4 candidates on the ballot. I'd say his victory in those states was overwhelming.
He remains the only president elected with only 30 percent of the total vote, since South carolina was excluded from the election.
Check your facts. Lincoln won almost 40% of the popular vote - 39.65 to be exact. John Quincy Adams won election in 1824 with 31% of the vote. And South Carolina was not excluded from the election; they cast their 8 electoral votes for John Breckenridge. Given your screen name I'm surprised you didn't know that.
According to the accepted totals, Lincoln got almost 40% of the vote.
From what I can see "South Carolina" the state did "vote" in the election. Their electors cast ballots.
It was just that the state decided up to the Civil War, not to hold popular elections. Since the state chose not to play the popular vote game, you can't hold it against the victors in those elections.