Did the Bush 1988 campaign project Bush's weaknesses on to Dukakis?

[darklordoftech]

Bush was seen as a "wimp", and his campaign presented Dukakis as soft on crime. Bush was seen as a "WASP", and his campaign presented Dukakis as an elitist New Englander. Bush was seen as not truly conservative, and his campaign attacked Dukakis for being a "liberal" (not sure what "liberal meant in this context).

[60+ GOP Seats After 2018 GUARANTEED]

What Bush did to Dukkakis in 1988 over crime is what Obama would do to Romney over wealth in 2012. Both flawlessly executed.

I don't think he was projecting however. I feel Bush would have attacked him that way no matter what. Why? 2 words: Lee Atwater. He was the one who had Bush focus on crime for example. Going after Dukkakis on crime was extremely smart because the late 80s/early 90s was the prime for the high crime rate in America. One of the main reasons for the high crime rate was weak punishment and Dukkakis personified that.

Thankfully Clinton signed the mass incarceration bill and cities all over the USA increased policing and crime started to fall in the mid-90s.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Nope, Dukakis was a weak candidate on his own and made a bunch of costly missteps that destroyed his chances.  Willie Horton, the tank, the debate question from Bernie Shaw...the list goes on and on.