Found 1988 Article about Dukakis Strategy

[Podgy the Bear]

Looking back at the 1988 election--there are similar parallels to 1928.  Even though Al Smith was crushed nationally, he set the strategy that moved the urban vote to the Democrats, setting up the realignment election of 1932. 

The 1988 election has a somewhat similar end result for the Democrats--make the West Coast, upper Midwest, and Northeast competitive to set up the stage for 1992 and beyond. 

In hindsight, Dukakis was never going to win in the South/Border states-- but the belief that Lloyd Bentsen would be helpful plus the fact the Democrats did particularly well in the South in the 1986 midterms may have given Dukakis's election team an unrealistic hope.  Perhaps that was true in 1988.  Even so, his performance in Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, and Oklahoma was better than Mondale's.  Of course now, the competitive Southern states are different (Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina).

Since then, this electoral strategy continues to function as the Democratic game plan.  And for now, it seems to be working--no less than 251 electoral votes since 1988.  And fighting for at least some of the South places the Repubs on the defensive.