Lincoln-Douglas campaign lasts from mid-June 1858 until January 1859

The Illinois Republican Party endorsement of Abraham Lincoln on June 16, 1858 as their "first and only choice" for U.S. senator set in motion an unprecedented senatorial campaign that lasted from mid-June through the November 2 general election for the state legislature to the ultimate balloting for senator on January 5, 1859. The campaign was the most watched in the nation and signaled both Stephen Douglas's immense stature and unparalleled political skills and Abraham Lincoln's impending rise to national prominence. (By Matthew Pinsker)