1988 Presidential Election (No Reagan Series)

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

Preoccupied with the Libyan Crisis , President du Pont was left with little time or inclination to hit the campaign trail. His complacency cost him dearly, as Pat Buchanan consolidated conservative support and swept through to big victories in the early primaries. By the time the President had hit the trail, it was too late. Buchanan’s momentum was unstoppable.

The Democratic primary was a much more civil affair. Iacocca and Nunn each had their time in the sun as frontrunner but ultimately it would be Ferraro who pulled together a winning coalition of liberals, moderates and women. Sam Nunn was selected as VP to bring regional balance and respectability to the ticket.

Buchanan/Hunter ’88: Putting Americans First

Pat Buchanan has promised to stand up for America's middle class by fighting to defend U.S manufacturing from foreign competition, to finally secure the country's southern border, to defend the rights of the unborn, and to put America First in matters of foreign policy.

Ferraro/Nunn ’88: New Leadership for America

Geraldine Ferraro has pledged to enact an immediate nuclear freeze, to resume Detente with Gorbachev’s USSR, to finally ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, to restore America's failing infrastructure, and to make the wealthy pay their fair share.

Two days.

[Goldwater]

Ugh, Ferraro, I guess.

[Kingpoleon]

Ford supported the ERA, IIRC.

[Blair]

Ugh, Ferraro, I guess.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Kooky Pat

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

[Santander]

Go Pat Go!

[Boston Bread]

Obvious Ferraro is obvious.

[SNJ1985]

Buchanan/Hunter

[Classic Conservative]

Buchanan/Hunter

[NeverAgain]

Obvious Ferraro is obvious.

[SATW]

Ferraro/Nunn

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

I originally voted Ferraro to maybe not make a Pat-slide...

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

Mr. Patrick J. Buchanan/Representative Duncan Hunter - 120 EV (38.5%)
Senator Geraldine Ferraro/Senator Sam Nunn - 418 EV (61.5%)

The Republican crack-up of '88 allowed Ferraro to sweep into office in a landslide. Having unseated their candidate, establishment Republicans refused to get in line behind Buchanan, many voted for the Democratic ticket in protest. Buchanan was labeled as an extremist by the media, someone too far outside the political mainstream to be trusted with the presidency. To great effect, Ferraro attacked Buchanan as a political neophyte who had no legislative or executive experience. Ultimately, incumbent fatigue might have been the most decisive factor of all. America was ready for a change.