Jack Kemp vs. Michael Dukakis, 1988

[A18]

What's the map look like?

[A18]

?

[phk]

lol

[FerrisBueller86]

I'd have voted for Dukakis.

I have no idea who would win.  What does the public think of Kemp?  Even though I disagree with his conservative views and supply side economics, he is a great speaker, and I like his optimism and his commitment to the poor (which separates him from the rest of his party).  I know that Kemp didn't do well in the 1988 primaries, though, so he doesn't seem that popular with Republicans.  If the swing voters find him as inspiring as I do, then Kemp wins in a Reagan-like landslide.  If Kemp puts swing voters to sleep, then Dukakis stands a chance.

[Notre Dame rules!]

Dukakis in a tank, and Willie Horton.  It wouldn't have mattered who the GOP ran in '88, since Dukakis was his own worst enemy.


At any rate, Kemp would have picked  up any state the Bush 41 lost by less than 5 points.

[No more McShame]

Dukakis in a tank, and Willie Horton.  It wouldn't have mattered who the GOP ran in '88, since Dukakis was his own worst enemy.


At any rate, Kemp would have picked  up any state the Bush 41 lost by less than 5 points.

Map with a 5 point swing.  Kemp gains Washington, Oregon (barely), Wisconsin, West Virginia (barely), and New York.

[Rob]

Kemp/Kemp. No Republican could have lost in 1988.

[A18]

Why would Kemp do better than Bush? Wasn't he a lot more conservative, favoring even larger tax cuts than Kemp-Roth?

[No more McShame]

Kemp was more popular with minorities, a better campagner than Bush 41, more inspiring, and moderate on social issues.

[Erc]

Nothing says 'tough on crime' better than a former NFL quarterback staring you in the face.

[TomC]

I've never voted Republican for President, but could easily see myself voting for Kemp against the passionless Dukakis.

[Akno21]

Nothing says 'tough on crime' better than a former NFL quarterback staring you in the face.

Really? Wouldn't he have spent his whole career getting hit, not doing the hitting?

[ATFFL]

Nothing says 'tough on crime' better than a former NFL quarterback staring you in the face.

Really? Wouldn't he have spent his whole career getting hit, not doing the hitting?

I think a linebacker would "say tough on crime" better.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Jack Kemp for the landslide!

[Alcon]

Kemp/Kemp.

[A18]

Look realistic?

[Ronald Reagan]

Dukakis - 57
Kemp - 481

[Platypus]

Dukakis would have won MA, at absolute least.

[Lincoln Republican]

Kemp          455
Dukakis         83

Dukakis was completely uninspiring and unfit to be President.

[© tweed]

Kemp/Kemp. No Republican could have lost in 1988.

Couldn't disagree more.  No Republican could have lost to Dukakis in 1988 but if somebody else was the nominee it certainly would have been a race.

Case in point-- Dukakis 53%, Bush 38% in midsummer 1988.

[Gustaf]

Kemp was from NY...he would definitely have won it against Dukakis.

[George W. Hobbes]

Yes!  President Jack Kemp...one of my favorite alternate Presidents ever.

(My fantasy list of presidents would be Kemp ('81-'89), du Pont ('89-97), Dole ('97-01).

[© tweed]

Dukakis/Kemp.  Dukakis lost the election in 1988, Bush didn't win it.  The candidate running against him wasn't a major factor.  Still, Bush was probably aided somewhat by being viewed as an extension of the widely popular Reagan presidency, and thus was a better candidate, but a talking chicken could have beaten Dukakis nationally.

[Tory]

Kemp/Kemp