four major candidates vied for the presidential nomination- lewis cass of michigan, the nominee in 1848, who had the backing of northerners in support of the compromise of 1850; james buchanan of pennsylvania, popular in the south as well as in his home state; stephen a. douglas of illinois, candidate of the expansionists and the railroad interests; and william l. marcy of new york, whose strength was centered in his home state. cass led on the first nineteen ballots of the convention, but was unable to win the necessary two-thirds majority. buchanan pulled ahead on the twentieth ballot, but he too was unable to win a two-thirds majority. pierce won votes for the first time on the 35th ballot, and was nominated almost unanimously on the 49th ballot.