The Political Shrewdness of Lincoln

The writings of Abraham Lincoln consistently demonstrate that Lincoln had a nearly unmatched political acumen that often served him well and allowed him to attain and get re-elected to the highest political office in the country. From his earliest days in Sangamo County, Lincoln displayed an acute understanding of the mindset and temperament of his constituents. For example, while opposing President Polk's land grab in Mexico, Lincoln simultaneously voted 'yes' for every military spending bill because his constituents were pro-military.

In the case of opposing Stephen Douglas for the Senator's seat in 1858 and the presidency in 1860, Lincoln smartly positioned himself as a moderate occupied with the moral problems of slavery, thus positioning Douglas as an extremist with an amoral view of slavery. Lincoln understood the importance of public sentiment, and he knew that if he had any hope of getting elected, he had to...