William Jennings Bryan was elected to congress in 1890 and 1892.  He then received the Democratic nomination for president, but lost the election in 1896, 1900, and 1908.  These cartoons from the 1908 election cycle suggest that serious doubt that Bryan could win the presidency on his third attempt.  There was also a sense that Bryan’s third nomination was motivated more by his desire to win than his desire to govern.