What similarities if any are there? I keep hearing '88 being thrown around as a close match to this year. Two things I can thing of that would make it close : coming out of a previous controversial eight years and having a relatively unknown GOP VP pick who got attacked out of the gate.
Similarity -- Experienced, war hero leading the GOP ticket chooses a far right extremist beloved by the Talibagelicals as a running mate.
Difference -- The running mate for the GOP this time around is not an incompetent boob.
Similarity -- The Democrats nominate a mainstream liberal with little experience to head the ticket. And a running mate who is highly regarded by both parties (or was, as most Republicans conveniently forget their admiration of Democrats in election years).
Difference -- The 1988 D nominee was a white guy, despite the funny name. He somehow managed to win West Virginia. The 2008 nominee is an
uppity elitist
coon African American who couldn't win West Virginia if the other ticket was Stalin/Lenin.
Similarity -- Both Republican Presidential nominees were once moderates but caved in to the demands and manipulations of the religious right.
Difference -- When the first Bush was elected, he very subtly began to push back against the extremists in his party and set a center-right course, rather than hard right. He took some flak but nothing like what John McCain will face. The far right media machine is very well oiled now.