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Neither John Adams nor Thomas Jefferson saw himself as "running for President" in 1800. Four years earlier, when they had stood in opposition to each other in the presidential contest to succeed Washington, neither candidate had conducted an active campaign. Many Federalists regarded Alexander Hamilton as the actual leader of the party, and for much of Adams's presidency his administration was weakened by leading members of his Cabinet looking to Hamilton for direction. Although, as the incumbent, Adams had only to stand for reelection and was less active than Jefferson in the campaign, his movements during the election year reveal a candidate running for office. The campaign of 1800 was not simply a contest between presidential candidates; it was an election in which the outcome was determined by numerous candidates running for state legislatures and for presidential electors. A week after the Federalists held their caucus, Republican members of Congress caucused and rewarded Aaron Burr for the New York victory by nominating him as vice presidential candidate to run with Jefferson on the Republican ticket.

As compared to the U.S. presidential election of 1800, the election of 1804 lacked vigorous debates over issues and persons that were carried on in private letters and public forums. It did not produce columns of electioneering pieces that filled newspapers in the previous election nor were there lively controversies carried on in pamphlets and campaign leaflets. Despite this, Thomas Jefferson won an impressive victory.