Rank the factors in HW's 1988 victory from biggest to smallest

[darklordoftech]

The factors in HW Bush's victory over Dukakis are generally though to be:

- A vow not to raise taxes
- foreign policy experience
- hawkish foreign policy
- nationalistic rhetoric
- Willie Horton
- the death penalty
- Reagan's popularity

Rank these factors from biggest to smallest.

[sg0508]

1) Reagan's Popularity
2) The Economy
3) Willie Horton / Law & Order
         - Suburban strength

[dw93]

1. Dukakis being a weak Candidate. Bush probably would've lost had someone stronger been nominated by the Democrats as Dukakis at one point was leading Bush by 17 points and Bush himself was a pretty weak candidate (as 1992 showed).

2. Lee Atwater

3. Willie Horton

4. The Death Penalty

5. The Economy

6. Reagan's popularity

7. A Vow not to raise taxes

8. Foreign Policy Experience

9. Hawkish Foreign Policy

10. Nationalist Rhetoric

This is not to say I dislike Bush Sr. or think he was a bad VP or a Bad President, quite the opposite actually.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

1. Reagan's popularity
2. The economy
3. The "no new taxes pledge"
4. Suburban strength (the last time a Republican had that advantage, which is why it was the last time before Trump that party got over 300 EVs and has lost the popular vote in all but one presidential election since)
5. Dukakis' missteps (the tank, the debate question about his wife, etc.)
6. Willie Horton
7. Foreign policy experience