A New America Series - 1988 General Election

[Maxwell]

A New America Series - 1988 General Election

Surviving a close re-nomination and quickly descending approval ratings, President Brown had to make a bold decision for Vice President. Congressman Bill Clinton was a potential choice, as he is viewed as the party's biggest and brightest rising star (a liberal in deeply conservative territory), but vetting proved problematic. Governor Ed Koch was the other big choice, a Jewish American, but he proved too conservative and too bright of a personality for the job. Instead of someone to secure a vote, President Brown decided to make history - he selected the first woman to be on a Presidential ticket since Eleanor Roosvelt in Senator Patsy Mink. Mink is a die-hard liberal, and opposed to Brown's NAFTA package, but has said that she will do what is best for her country and work with the President to keep the White House in Democratic hands. Brown's bid for a third term relies heavily on continued economic and budgetary success in the country, the falling of the Soviet Union, a promise to reform congressional ethics so that congress is more accountable, and passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Former Congressman Jack Kemp sealed the Republican nomination, and with that he tries to mend the fences with moderate Republicans. Rather than olive branching to the Anti-NAFTA wing of the party, Kemp branches to the moderate Northeastern establishment who largely mistrust Kemp's arch fiscal conservatism. Kemp picks Bob Dole ally Senator Gary Lewis of Kansas. Lewis, like Dole, is a gate keeper between conservative and moderates. Lewis is a young rising star in leadership and a person that will not make any waves whatsoever within the party's normal circumstances. Kemp/Lewis promises massive tax reduction, a compassionate view toward the poor, is also pro-NAFTA.

These are not normal circumstances, however, and that wing of both parties had a segment that walked out. They would go on to support the campaign of Texas Congressman and conservative maverick Hank Grover, who would take the unconventional route and pick liberal AFI-CIO President Lane Kirkland for VP. Their campaign is simple - they oppose NAFTA, will veto it as soon as it reaches their desk, and push for an agreement that will "protect American jobs".

2 Days!

[Intell]

Grover more for his Vice-President more than anything, as well as opposing NAFTA.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Grover more for his Vice-President more than anything, as well as opposing NAFTA.

[Goldwater]

Kemp!

[Mike Thick]

Kemp!

[Mr. Smith]

More Moonbeam

much as I dislike NAFTA, I'm not voting for Grover over just it... and Patsy Mink as Veep sounds awesome.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

Grover/Kirkland for America!

[OSR stands with Israel]

Kemp

[Maxwell]

So far so bad for Brown's third term ambitions.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Kemp!

[Maxwell]

In the last day Kemp holds a narrow lead over Grover, as Brown toils in last place.

[tpfkaw]

Brown currently doing worse than Taft in 1912. (Republican all-time low)

Now doing worse than Fillmore in 1856! (Whig all-time low, party folded afterwards)

Now "only" worse than equal to Davis in 1924. (Democratic all-time low, even worse than Douglas 1860)

[Supersonic]

This is almost a mirror image of the 1980 election.

[Mr. Smith]

Brown currently doing worse than Taft in 1912.

Now doing worse than Fillmore in 1856!

He mirrors his Daddy back in the 60's when Pappy Brown tried for Term 3...or did that not happen this time around.

[Maxwell]

A late Brown surge won't be enough - Closing this up. Map coming shortly.

[Maxwell]

A New America Series - 1988 General Election

In 1991, President Brown's high approval ratings made it seem impossible for him to face a serious challenge. Facing fringes in his own party and a series of also-rans in the Republican Party, he hoped he could come out on top in 1988. However, American disapproval over his attempt for a third term (Republicans portrayed it as a power grab) dissauded many voters. Another major factor in his loss was American disapproval over NAFTA - causing his surprisingly narrow re-nomination and a large amount of Democrats to crossover and vote for maverick Congressman Hank Grover. Speaking of Grover, Grover's campaign, largely focused on trade issues and populism, gained a large amount of support of blue collar voters from both parties. The split caused President Brown to get only third in the popular vote - a devastating response to his Presidency (Brown's home state would prop his electoral vote higher than many expected a 29% showing to get) But the split wasn't as pertinent in the Republican Party - where staunchly conservative Former Congressman Jack Kemp managed to edge both of them with a wide electoral win, giving conservatives their first President since John Bricker (Richard Nixon and Joesph Martin largely ran Government as moderates, and we all know President Hatfield).

Former Congressman Jack Kemp (R-NY)/Senator Gary Lewis (R-KS) - 39.5%, 451 EV's
President Jerry Brown (D-CA)/Senator Patsy Mink (D-HI) - 28.9%, 54 EV's
Congressman Hank Grover (I-TX)/AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland (I-SC) - 31.6%, 33 EV's