The desperation experienced during the Social War forced the Romans to turn to drastic remedies for their cheerless condition. At some point before the elections for 88, the Senate decided to make the war against Mithridates of Pontus, who had invaded Asia, a consular province. Asconius insists that the conflict between Caesar and Sulpicius was one of the causes of the civil war of 88, an exaggeration, but he must be right that this episode led others to see the tribune in a new light. Just as Sulla had been alienated by Sulpicius's violence during the canvassing in 89, although he had benefited from it, so, and all the more, were the Romans, even those who benefited from Sulla's legislation, appalled by his conduct. Sulla's nephew failed to win election to the tribunate and his preferred candidate for the consulship, P. Servilius Isauricus, who had just celebrated a triumph, went down in defeat.