take the stump

take the stump (third-person singular simple present takes the stump, present participle taking the stump, simple past took the stump, past participle taken the stump)

1. (chiefly US) To make a series of political speeches, especially to promote a particular cause.
   • 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry for Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 127:

     Still calling himself a Whig, Lincoln took the stump in behalf of anti-Nebraska candidates for the legislature, hoping that victory would forge a legislative majority to elect him to the U. S. Senate.