the other one is a gentleman named john hardin. they had similar qualifications to lincoln. they are all about the same age. they are all three lawyers and members of the illinois legislature. they all have similar qualifications. so the first hurdle he has to get over is the county convention. his home county, they are going to nominate delegates to districtwide congressional meeting where the nominees are going to be chosen. now, illinois is a very heavily democratic state at this time. if you are an ambitious person in illinois compass was your only congressional district is hoped hope to move on. you're not going to get elected governor, chosen for the legislature, if you are an upwardly mobile raid in 1843, this was your shot. and so lincoln was at this convention and unfortunately it doesn't go as he planned. he throws in the towel around noon. at least one of the newspapers reported that if he had hung in there until nightfall, his reporters would have showed up earlier in the day. as it stands, lincoln ends up as a pledged delegate to the districtwide convention, ple