Polk's Whig opposition at this USA presidential election, 1844 was Henry Clay of KY. Incumbent Whig chairman John Tyler; the former Democrat; had become alienated from the Whigs and was not appointed for the second period. The topic of the Texas Annexation, which was at the vanguard during the Republican meeting, once more dominated the race. Polk was a powerful advocate of direct annexation, while Clay represented a more equivocal and vacillating point. Another race subject, also referring to westward expansion, involved the Oregon region, so under the common occupation of the United States and united kingdom. The Democrats had championed the case of expansion, informally relating the disputed Texas annexation issue with the claim to the whole Oregon region, so appealing to both North and South expansionists. Polk's help for West expansion was logical, what Democrat lawyer John L. O'Sullivan could tell `` Manifest Destiny ''; and probably played an crucial part at his success, as opponent Henry Clay hedged his position on this as well.
