1988 United States Presidential Election (A New Dawn)

The 1988 United States Presidential Election was the 51st quadrennial presidential election in the United States, held on Tuesday, November 8, 1988. The Republican ticket of incumbent Vice President George H. W. Bush, in the nation's first two-round election, defeated the Democratic ticket of Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. This was the first presidential election since 1948 in which the incumbent party won more than two elections in a row. It also remains the most recent election in which the victor won more than 400 electoral votes.

Following the so-called "Reagan Reforms" of the late 1980s, the electoral system in the United States was significantly changed, introducing a two-round system that greatly improved the viability of third parties. In the Republican Party, Bush was the early front-runner, and fended off challenges from Senator Bob Dole and minister Pat Robertson, who would go on to join the fledging Constitution Party, founded by himself and Pat Buchanan as an alternative to Bush's moderate conservatism. Meanwhile, Dukakis won the Democratic primary after many prominent Democrats, such as Gary Hart and Ted Kennedy, chose not to run.

Meanwhile, Buchanan and Robertson were nominated for president and vice president, respectively, while political activist Lyndon LaRouche joined Jesse Jackson's Progressive Party, the fourth party to use that name. While Jackson was originally expected to be the party's nominee, LaRouche was eventually chosen, and Jackson himself became the ticket's running mate. This was the first election since 1968 in which no incumbent President was on the ballot.

Bush ran an aggressive campaign, centered mainly on the strong economy, reduction of crime, and continuing of Reagan's policies. He attacked Dukakis as an elitist Massachusetts liberal, to which Dukakis mostly ignored or sometimes embraced. Both major candidates mostly ignored Buchanan and LaRouche, though Buchanan attacked Bush as a fake conservative and portrayed himself as the true Reagan successor, while LaRouche emphasized populism over Dukakis's perceived elitism. Bush won with a plurality in the first round, and then secured a decisive victory over Dukakis in the second round, winning by sizable margins.

Buchanan and LaRouche secured victories in their respective regions; the south and the northeast. Notably, the District of Columbia went for LaRouche, breaking its streak of voting for the Democrats. Ultimately, both third party candidates would take a combined 31% of the popular vote, propelling both parties into the mainstream.

Republican Nomination
After trailing Bob Dole and Pat Robertson, Bush gained significant momentum (or, as he called it, "Big Mo") in the New Hampshire Primary, and he swept Super Tuesday. At the convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bush said to the roaring crowd "Read my lips: No new taxes," a pledge that he eventually broke, which helped contribute to his loss in 1992.

First Round
On Election Night, November 8, Bush secured a victory in the traditionally Republican plains, and scored victories in the Midwest. Dukakis performed well in the Pacific States and narrowly won New York, despite facing significant challenge from the populism of LaRouche. Buchanan swept the South, winning the entire Deep South and and performing well in Texas, Florida, and the Upper South. In a humorous incident, ABC News called South Carolina for Bush, which was widely reported, until the morning of November 9, when it revealed that Buchanan had actually won the state.

LaRouche carried much of New England, and took Michigan and West Virginia thanks to his heavy use of populism and championing of worker's rights. He performed well in the industrial cities of the Midwest, but did poorly outside that region.

Second Round
With Buchanan and LaRouche eliminated, Bush and Dukakis advanced to the second round. Bush was successfully able to convince Buchanan to publicly back him, while LaRouche was for more reserved about supporting Dukakis, though he did eventually offer a half-hearted endorsement. A fourth debate was held to allow the two qualifiers to make their final pitch to the American people.

Bush ultimately trounced Dukakis, flipping California from Dukakis's column and taking several LaRouche states. In both the Electoral College and popular vote, Bush won by wide margins.