Al Gore presidential campaign, 1988

Al Gore campaigned for President of the United States as a Democratic candidate in the 1988 presidential election, against Democratic candidates Joe Biden, Dick Gephardt, Paul Simon, Jesse Jackson, and Michael Dukakis (who eventually won the Democratic nomination). Despite eventual defeat, Gore (with a strong third place) was one of the front-runners that year.

Announcement

On 11 April 1987, Senator Gore of Tennessee announced his candidacy. He stated that he believed he could offer, "clearer goals" than the other candidates. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4D8133FF932A25757C0A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print GORE ANNOUNCES PLAN TO DECLARE FOR THE PRESIDENCY LATER IN SPRING] ] Current Texas Governor, Republican Rick Perry, who at the time was a Democrat, was Gore's campaign chairman in Texas for his 1988 campaign. [ [http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=14215 New Faces Replace Washington-Bound Governors] ] During the Democratic debate, Gore argued that his foreign policy platform was different from his rivals, but they disagreed. " 'I reject Gore's efforts to try to pin labels,' Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri told reporters after the event." [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE7D9103FF935A35753C1A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Gore's Foreign Policy Not as Different as He Says, Rivals] ] At the time of the announcement, Senator Gore was 39 years old, making him the "youngest serious Presidential candidate since John F. Kennedy." Citation
first =WARREN WEAVER JR.,
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title = Gore as Candidate: Traveler Between 2 Worlds
year =January 21, 1988
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publisher =New York Times
url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFDF133CF932A15752C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
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id =] Gore was further described by the "New York Times" as:

:solidly built, dark and indisputably handsome. He has a powerful sweet tooth but keeps his weight under control by running several miles a day at dawn. His stump speaking is erratic, one night spirited and evocative and the next flat and routine. He is an indifferent platform joke-teller but can be a raconteur and mimic of some skill in the privacy of his chartered campaign plane. National analysts make Senator Gore a long-shot for the Presidential nomination, but many believe he could provide a natural complement for any of the other candidates: a young, attractive, moderate Vice Presidential nominee from the South. He currently denies any interest, but he carefully does not reject the idea out of hand.

Campaign

According to CNN, Gore ran his campaign as, "a Southern centrist, [who] opposed federal funding for abortion. He favored a moment of silence for prayer in the schools and voted against banning the interstate sale of handguns." [ [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/gore/stories/gore/index2.html The first presidential run] ] In addition, CNN notes, "in 1988, for the first time, 12 Southern states would hold their primaries on the same day, Super Tuesday. Gore thought he would be the only Southern candidate. He had not counted on Jesse Jackson." [ [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/gore/stories/gore/index2.html The first presidential run] ]

Gore began to criticize Jackson for his Mid-East policies. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE0DE123BF937A35757C0A96E948260 Gore Assails Dukakis Over Jackson] ] In particular, "Albert Gore Jr. assailed Mr. Jackson's foreign policy views yesterday and said he was 'dismayed' by Mr. Jackson's 'embrace of Arafat and Castro'." [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DF153EF933A05750C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Gore Assails Jackson on View of Israel] ] Jackson responded by stating that, "The issue is not whether the Israelis and Palestinians are moral equivalents. Both of them are human beings and both are trapped in the cycle of death and pain. And they are trapped in the cycle of mutual annihilation. I wanted to offer leadership that will move from mutual annihilation to coexistence to break the cycle of death." [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DF153EF933A05750C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Gore Assails Jackson on View of Israel] ] Gore was heavily criticized for his attacks against both Jackson and Dukakis. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE2DC1439F936A25757C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print ON MY MIND; Gore In the Big City] ] Jackson also retracted some of his previous statements. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4D81E3DF932A25757C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Jackson Seeks To Soften Stand On Middle East] ]

Jackson defeated Gore in the South Carolina Primary, winning, "more than half the total vote, three times that of his closest rival here, Senator Albert Gore Jr. of Tennessee." [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEED7103DF937A25750C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Jackson's Triumph in South Carolina Illustrates Dramatic Change Since Vote in '84] ] Gore next placed great hope on Super Tuesday [ [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/gore/stories/gore/index2.html The first presidential run] ] where they split the Southern vote: Jackson winning Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia; Gore winning Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Nevada, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. [ [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_Albert_Gore.htm Albert A. Gore, Jr., 45th Vice President (1993-2001)] ] [ [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/retro/super_tuesday_88.html THE FIRST SUPER TUESDAY] ]

Dropping out

Gore was later endorsed by New York Mayor, Ed Koch who made statements in favor of Israel and against Jackson. These statements further cast Gore in a negative light. [ [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/gore/stories/gore/index2.html The first presidential run] ] The endorsement led voters away from Gore who only received 10% of the vote in the New York Primary. Gore then dropped out of the race. [ [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_Albert_Gore.htm Albert A. Gore, Jr., 45th Vice President (1993-2001)] ] "The New York Times" argued that he lost support due to his attacks against Jackson, Dukakis, and others, as well as for his endorsement by Koch. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6DF1F3AF931A15757C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print This Gore Campaign, and the Next] ]

Gore was eventually able to mend fences with Jesse Jackson, who supported the Clinton-Gore ticket in 1992 and 1996, and who also campaigned for the Gore-Lieberman ticket during the 2000 presidential election. [ [http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/03/01/jackson.cnn/index.html Jesse Jackson endorses Gore for president] ] [ [http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/12/01/jackson/index.html God bless Jesse Jackson] ] Gore's policies changed substantially in 2000, reflecting his eight years as Vice President. [ [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec00/whocareswhowins.html Presidential Candidates Stances on the Issues] ]

tatewide contest won

South:
Tennesse, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma [ [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/8088/Dem1988.html Elections ] ]

Outside the South:
Nevada, Wyoming [ [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/8088/Dem1988.html Elections ] ]

Popular vote position

* Dukakis - 9,898,750 (42.51%)
* Jackson - 6,788,991 (29.15%)
* Gore - 3,185,806 (13.68%)
* Gephardt - 1,399,041 (6.01%)
* Simon - 1,082,960 (4.65%) [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55210 Our Campaigns - US President - D Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]

Endorsements

Governors

* Governor of Louisiana Buddy Roemer [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55210 Our Campaigns - US President - D Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]
* Governor of North Carolina Jim Hunt [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55210 Our Campaigns - US President - D Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]

United States Senators

* Senator Terry Sanford of North Carolina [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55210 Our Campaigns - US President - D Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]
* Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=34462 Our Campaigns - GA US President - D Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]
* Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=35514 Our Campaigns - LA US President - D Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]
* Senator David Boren of Oklahoma [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37471 Our Campaigns - OK US President - D Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]
* Former Senator Ralph Yarborough of Texas [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264118 Our Campaigns - TX US President - D Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]

Lieutenant Governors

* Lieutenant Governor of Alabama Jim Folsom, Jr. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=4921 Our Campaigns - Candidate - James E. "Jim" Folsom, Jr ] ]
* Former Lieutenant Governor of Alabama Bill Baxley [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=34053 Our Campaigns - AL US President - D Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]

tate House Speakers

* Georgia House of Representatives Speaker Tom Murphy [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=34462 Our Campaigns - GA US President - D Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]
* Alabama House of Representatives Speaker James S. Clark [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=75094 Our Campaigns - Candidate - James S. Clark ] ]

Others

* Mayor of New York Ed Koch
* Texas State Representative Rick Perry
* Alabama State Senator Ryan DeGraffenried [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=34053 Our Campaigns - AL US President - D Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/democracy/gore/stories/gore/index2.html The first presidential run] - "CNN"