Why (even though he had been elected president twice before) was it difficult for Roosevelt to gain the Republican Party's nomination in 1912?

So, what did Roosevelt do? What was his (and his supporters') plan?

I only have the answer for the first part and need help with the second part. heres my answer for the first part though

-He ran on a platform of "reform"...in other words, he wanted to change the Establishment (not just in his own Party but in all of Washington)...This cost him allies in both parties.

Google "Bull Moose Party"

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/politicalparties/p/bull_moose.htm

For the second part of your question, allow me to explain what Roosevelt did and his supporters' plan during the 1912 election.

After leaving office as President in 1909, Theodore Roosevelt remained actively involved in politics and continued to be a popular figure among both Republicans and progressive reformers. As the 1912 presidential election approached, Roosevelt had a strong desire to run for a third term. However, his path to securing the Republican Party's nomination was far from straightforward.

To gain the Republican Party's nomination in 1912, Roosevelt and his supporters devised a plan that involved several key steps:

1. Building Support: Roosevelt embarked on a nationwide speaking tour, delivering speeches that promoted his progressive ideas and appealed to a broad spectrum of voters. Through his charisma and eloquence, he aimed to rally public support and generate momentum for his candidacy.

2. Challenging the Incumbent: The incumbent Republican President at the time, William Howard Taft, was Roosevelt's friend and handpicked successor. However, Roosevelt grew increasingly dissatisfied with Taft's conservative policies and perceived lack of progressivism. Ultimately, Roosevelt decided to challenge Taft for the party's nomination, setting up a divisive intraparty struggle.

3. Organizing a New Party: When it became clear that the Republican Party was leaning towards Taft and that winning the nomination would be difficult, Roosevelt and his supporters decided to form a new political party, known as the Progressive Party or the Bull Moose Party. The Progressive Party represented a more progressive faction of Republicans who favored social reform, government intervention in the economy, and conservation.

4. Running on a Progressive Platform: The Progressive Party's platform, shaped by Roosevelt's ideas, called for sweeping reforms. It included popular policies such as direct election of senators, women's suffrage, an eight-hour workday, social welfare programs, regulation of big business, and environmental conservation. This progressive agenda aimed to differentiate Roosevelt and his supporters from the Republican Party's traditional conservative wing.

5. Mobilizing Support: Roosevelt's campaign focused on grassroots organizing and mobilizing supporters from various sectors of society. His message resonated with many working-class Americans, progressive intellectuals, and reform-minded activists. By appealing to a wide range of voters, Roosevelt sought to build a broad coalition that could challenge both the Republican and Democratic candidates.

In summary, Roosevelt's plan involved building public support, challenging the incumbent President within the Republican Party, forming a new political party, running on a progressive platform, and mobilizing a diverse coalition of supporters. Despite encountering difficulty in securing his party's nomination, Roosevelt's efforts in the 1912 election had a lasting impact on American politics and the subsequent evolution of progressive reform movements.