The Democratic NominationAs the 1988 race begins heating up, a large number of candidates declare for the nomination. The first is Governor Richard Lamm of Colorado, who declares on June 8, 1987. Governor Scott Matheson of Utah declares for the nomination on June 27, 1987. On August 25, 1987, Senator Lawton Chiles of Florida declares he will seek the nomination. On September 15, Governor Richard Riley of South Carolina announces he will run, and on December 5, Congressman Ron Dellums of California declares for the nomination, becoming the first African-American to make a serious bid for the Presidency on the Democratic side.
On February 8, the Iowa Caucuses are held, with a surprising win by Governor Lamm. One week after Iowa, the candidates descend on New Hampshire, where Dellums' record on defense scores him an upset win with the peace-loving New Hampshire voters.
Following two last place finishes, Governor Riley drops out and endorses Chiles.
One week after New Hampshire two primaries are held in Kentucky and South Dakota; resulting in a Chiles victory in Kentucky, and a Matheson win in South Dakota.
On March 5, primaries are held in Alabama (Chiles), Arizona (Matheson), Connecticut (Lamm), Florida (Chiles), Illinois (Chiles), Massachusetts (Dellums), North Carolina (Chiles), South Carolina (Chiles), and Wyoming (Matheson).
Despite winning two primaries, Matheson decides to drop out, and endorses Lamm on March 7.
Following Matheson's drop-out, a major run of primaries are held on March 15 in Alaska (Lamm), Arkansas (Chiles), California (Dellums), Georgia (Chiles), Hawaii (Dellums), Louisiana (Chiles), Maryland (Chiles), Mississippi (Chiles), Missouri (Chiles), Ohio (Lamm), Oklahoma (Chiles), Rhode Island (Lamm), Tennessee (Chiles), Texas (Chiles), and Virginia (Chiles).
Following Chiles' domination, Lamm drops out and endorses Chiles. Dellums, however, decides to continue competing, and on March 22 primaries are held in Delaware (Chiles), Indiana (Chiles), Michigan (Chiles), New York (Chiles), and West Virginia (Chiles).
Following the sweep, Dellums finally drops out, and endorses Chiles.
At the Democratic Convention, Chiles decides to select Senator Joe Biden of Delaware as his running mate.
Notable endorsements
Lawton Chiles Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi
Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia
Senator Ernest Hollings of South Carolina
Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas
Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia
Senator Terry Sanford of North Carolina
Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana
Senator David Boren of Oklahoma
Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas
Governor Jim Hunt of North Carolina
Ron Dellums Representative John Lewis of Georgia
Representative Mickey Leland of Texas
Representatives Charlie Rangel of New York
Representatives John Conyers of Michigan
Richard Lamm Governor Roy Romer of Colorado
Senator Gary Hart of Colorado
Richard Riley: Governor Joe Frank Harris of Georgia
Governor Ned McWherter of Tennessee
The Republican NominationOn June 27, 1987, Vice President Bush announces that, due to his health problems, he would not seek the Republican nomination. On July 5, barely a week after Bushs announcement, Senator Bob Dole of Kansas declares for the nomination. On August 18, former Governor Pierre S. du Pont of Delaware enters the race; on October 5, Senator Jack Kemp of New York puts his name in, and on October 24, former Governor Dick Thornburgh of Pennsylvania enters the race.
As the primaries get under way, Dole appears to be the frontrunner, and he wins a resounding victory in Iowa. One week later, in New Hampshire, Kemp pulls off an upset victory; an angry Dole attacks Kemp for lying about my record.
Two weeks after Iowa, a Super Tuesday set of primaries are held in Alabama (Dole), Arizona (Dole), Connecticut (Kemp), Delaware (du Pont), Florida (Dole), Georgia (Dole), Illinois (Thornburgh), Ohio (Dole), Virginia (Dole), and Wisconsin (Dole). After winning just one primary, Kemp drops out and endorses du Pont.
Following Super Tuesday, Dole sweeps Alaska, California, and Hawaii, forcing du Pont out of the race. Thornburgh, however, stays in, taking the Pennsylvania primary held the next week. Dole finally closes him out by winning Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas the next week.
At the Republican Convention in New York City, Dole makes the decision to select Kemp as his running mate.
Notable endorsements
Bob Dole Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina
Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska
Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut
Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker of Kansas
Senator Warren Rudman of New Hampshire
Senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota
Governor George Deukmejian of California
Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. of South Carolina
Dick Thornburgh Senator Bob Packwood of Oregon
Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico
Senator H. John Heinz III of Pennsylvania
Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania
Governor Edward D. DiPrete of Rhode Island
Pierre S. du Pont Senator Bill Roth of Delaware
Governor Mike Castle of Delaware
Jack Kemp House Minority Whip Trent Lott of Mississippi
Senator Gordon Humphrey of New Hampshire
Representative Robert C. Smith of New Hampshire
The General ElectionFrom day one, the election is extremely close. Chiles immediately goes on the attack, criticizing Dole for supporting the Embargo, which is supported by just 17% of Americans. Dole, in return, attacks Chiles for being too liberal.
On September 25, at the first debate, Chiles hits Dole hard on the Embargo, while Dole says that he opposed the Embargo from the start. Following the debate, Chiles and Dole still stand almost even, although people seem to be shifting to Chiles. Chiles gets a resounding victory in the second debate on October 17, and polls show him pulling away.
On October 26, barely a week before the election, Hatfield finally lifts the Embargo, in an attempt to pull up Dole. The attempt fails, and Chiles squeaks by on Election Day.
Lawton Chiles/Joe Biden: 50.3% PV, 285 EVBob Dole/Jack Kemp: 48.1% PV, 253 EVOthers: 1.6% PV, 0 EVThe Congressional ElectionsGiven the extremely close election, the Congressional makeup stays much the same, with on gains in the Senate for either Party, and minor gains for House Democrats.
Senate ResultsDemocrats: 57 (-)Republicans: 43 (-)House ResultsDemocrats: 253 (+3)Republicans: 182 (-3)