1988: Bob Dole/Paul Laxalt vs. Mario Cuomo/Lawton Chiles

[President Johnson]

Any suggestions how this match-up may end up in 1988?

[The Govanah Jake]

A smaller win for Dole then Bush Senior but still a decisive win.

[bagelman]

A lot of people think that 1988 was a strong GOP year because of the election results but it was a very winnable election for Democrats squandered by Dukakis and shot down by Willie. Cuomo would have a good shot against Dole, and if Dole manages to win it'd be much closer to '04 margins than OTL '88. Push comes to shove I'd favor Cuomo.

[dw93]

A lot of people think that 1988 was a strong GOP year because of the election results but it was a very winnable election for Democrats squandered by Dukakis and shot down by Willie. Cuomo would have a good shot against Dole, and if Dole manages to win it'd be much closer to '04 margins than OTL '88. Push comes to shove I'd favor Cuomo.

[President Johnson]

A lot of people think that 1988 was a strong GOP year because of the election results but it was a very winnable election for Democrats squandered by Dukakis and shot down by Willie. Cuomo would have a good shot against Dole, and if Dole manages to win it'd be much closer to '04 margins than OTL '88. Push comes to shove I'd favor Cuomo.

Agreed. Dukakis ran a joke campaign. I think Mario Cuomo or a Southern Democrat like Lloyd Bentsen, Sam Nunn, Lawton Chiles or Al Gore would have won against Poppy or Dole.

[Lechasseur]

A lot of people think that 1988 was a strong GOP year because of the election results but it was a very winnable election for Democrats squandered by Dukakis and shot down by Willie. Cuomo would have a good shot against Dole, and if Dole manages to win it'd be much closer to '04 margins than OTL '88. Push comes to shove I'd favor Cuomo.

I think Dole would probably still win but I agree it would probably be similar to Dubya's victory in 'O4