United States presidential election, 1988
From Conservapedia
After President Ronald Reagan's term in office was over, his Vice-President, George H. W. Bush, decided to run for the Presidency. He was criticized more than his predecessor, but he was still very popular among Republicans. He managed to win the Republican nomination for President. To run against him the Democrats nominated Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis. Both of the candidates ran hard and sincere campaignes. During them Bush won great support with several promises which involved no new taxes. [1] Ultimately, his hard work in Government, his promises as a candidate, and family-values standards won Bush the Presidency.
Although Vice President Bush campaigned under the shadow of the popular President Reagan, who left office during a time of national optimism, he trailed in the polls though out the summer because of issues such as the large federal deficit, the Iran-Contra affair and an October 1987 stock market collapse. However, he managed to close the gap by fall of the campaign. With the Cold War in it's height, Bush focused on his foreign policy experience as a member of the U.S. military, ambassador to the United Nations and eight years as Vice President. In response Democrats criticized Bush's selection of Dan Quayle for vice president as being too inexperienced. Michael Dukakis offered a traditionally unabashed liberal vision of increased government on health care, education, and housing. His position on crime and capital punishment became a major issue. Dukakis allowed weekend prison passes to criminals with the Massachusetts furlough program, one of whom was Willie Horton--an African American convicted murderer who raped a white woman and tortured her fiancé. Also, during the second Presidential debate Dukakis was asked
"If Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?"
To which Dukakis responded: "No, I don't, Bernard. And I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent, and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime." [2]
He also hurt his campaign when he was seen riding in a tank--grinning and looking diminutive in an oversized helmet, resulting in ridicule by the public of having the idea of him as commander in chief.
Results
| candidates | popular vote | electoral vote |
|---|---|---|
| George H.W. Bush | 48, 138, 478 | 426 |
| Michael Dukakis | 41, 114, 068 | 112 |
| Ron Paul | 409, 412 | 0 |
| Lenora Fulani | 21, 430 | 0 |
| David Duke | 44, 135 | 0 |
| Eugene McCarthy | 30, 074 | 0 |
| James Griffin | 26, 053 | 0 |
| Lyndon Larouche | 23, 713 | 0 |
References
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Presidents, George Bush, by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1993, pp. 75-81.
- ↑ http://www.debates.org/pages/trans88b.html
- ↑ A Pictoral History of the U.S. Presidents, by Clare Gibson, Gramercy Books, 2001, p. 127.
