Which concept would states' rights advocates have supported during the 1860 presidential election?

a) the abolition of slavery

b) the idea of popular sovereignty

c) the candidacy of John Bell

d) the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln.

"b) the idea of popular sovereignty" is something that a states’ rights advocates have supported during the 1860 presidential election, since they generally felt as though the federal government should be subservient to the states.