The 1876 presidential election in the United States was a highly contested and controversial event. Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic candidate, faced off against Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate.
The assertion that the only way Tilden could win the election was with strong southern support is rooted in the political dynamics and circumstances of that time.
Solid Democratic South: During the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, the Southern states were predominantly Democratic. This was a result of historical allegiances, as well as opposition to the Republican Party, which was associated with the Northern states and the Union's policies during and after the Civil War.
Southern Discontent with Reconstruction Policies: The Republican Party, particularly under President Ulysses S. Grant, implemented policies during the Reconstruction period that were aimed at rebuilding the Southern states and protecting the rights of newly emancipated African Americans. Many white Southerners were discontented with these policies, and the Democratic Party, including Tilden, appealed to this discontent.