Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1988

Infobox Election
election_name = Republican Presidential Primaries, 1988
country = United States
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1984
previous_year = 1984
next_election = Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1992
next_year = 1992
election_date = 1988

nominee1 = George H. W. Bush
party1 = Republican Party (United States)
home_state1 = Texas
states_carried1 = 41
popular_vote1 = 8,253,512
percentage1 = 67.90%

nominee2 = Bob Dole
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
home_state2 = Kansas
states_carried2 = 5
popular_vote2 = 2,333,375
percentage2 = 19.19%

nominee3 = Pat Robertson
party3 = Republican Party (United States)
home_state3 = Virginia
states_carried3 = 4
popular_vote3 = 1,097,446
percentage3 = 5.02%

map_

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map_size = 300px
map_caption =
before_election = Ronald Reagan
before_party =
after_election = George H. W. Bush
after_party =

1988 Republican Party Presidential primaries and caucuses

Vice President George H. W. Bush had the support of President Ronald Reagan, and pledged to continue Reagan's policies, but also pledged a "kinder and gentler nation" in an attempt to win over some more moderate voters. Nevertheless, Bush faced challenges from the following candidates for the GOP nomination:

* Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas
* Former Governor Pierre S. du Pont, IV of Delaware
* RNHA chairman Ben Fernandez of California
* Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig
* Representative Jack Kemp of New York
* Former Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada
* Teleevangelist Pat Robertson of Virginia
* Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld of Illinois
* Former Governor Harold E. Stassen of Minnesota

During the start of the presidential primary election season in early 1988, Robertson's campaign was attacked because of a statement he had made about his military service. In his campaign literature, he stated he was a combat Marine who served in the Korean War. Other Marines in his battalion contradicted Robertson's version, claiming he had never spent a day in a combat environment. They asserted that instead of fighting in the war, Robertson's primary responsibility was supplying alcoholic beverages for his officers. (see Education and military service)

Robertson's campaign got off to a strong second-place finish in the Iowa caucus, ahead of Bush. [10]

Robertson did poorly in the subsequent New Hampshire primary, however, and was unable to be competitive once the multiple-state primaries began. Robertson ended his campaign before the primaries were finished. His best finish was in Washington, winning the majority of caucus delegates. However, his controversial win has been credited to procedural manipulation by Robertson supporters who delayed final voting until late into the evening when other supporters had gone home. [11] [12] He later spoke at the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans and told his remaining supporters to cast their votes for Bush, who ended up winning the nomination and the election. He then returned to CBN and has remained there as a religious broadcaster.

Bush unexpectedly came in third in the Iowa caucus (that he had won back in 1980), behind winner Dole and Robertson. Dole was also leading in the polls of the New Hampshire primary, and the Bush camp responded by running television commercials portraying Dole as a tax raiser, while Governor John H. Sununu stumped for Bush. These efforts enabled the Vice President to defeat Dole and gain crucial momentum. After his loss Dole was bitter about his defeat, going on TV to tell Bush to "stop lying about my record." [cite news | title=Even with win, Bush seen to be vulnerable | work=Christian Science Monitor | date=February 18, 1988 | first=John | last=Dillin | page=1]

Once the multiple-state primaries such as Super Tuesday began, Bush's organizational strength and fundraising lead were impossible for the other candidates to match, and the nomination was his. The Republican party convention was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bush was nominated unanimously. Bush selected U.S. Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his running mate.

In his acceptance speech, Bush made an energetic pledge, "", a comment that would come to haunt him in the 1992 elections.

Primaries detail

tatewide contests by winner

Only three candidates (Bush, Dole and Robertson) won any statewide contest [ [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/8088/Rep1988.html Elections ] ]

Bush
* Alabama
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* New York
* New Jersey
* New Hampshire
* New Mexico
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Ohio
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* Texas (home state)
* Tennessee
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin

Dole
* Iowa
* Kansas (home state)
* Minnesota
* South Dakota
* Wyoming

Robertson
* Alaska
* Hawaii
* Nevada
* Washington

Popular vote results: [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55211 Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]
* George H. W. Bush - 8,253,512 (67.90%)
* Bob Dole - 2,333,375 (19.19%)
* Pat Robertson - 1,097,446 (5.02%)
* Jack Kemp - 331,333 (2.72%)
* Unpledged - 756,990 (4.48%)
* Pierre S. DuPont IV - 49,783 (0.41%)
* Alexander M. Haig - 26,619 (0.22%)
* Harold Stassen - 2,682 (0.01%)

Notable endorsements

George H. W. Bush
* President Ronald Reagan(announced May 12, 1988)
* Former Senator and 1964 Presidential nominee Barry Goldwater of Arizona [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55211 Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]
* Governor of New Hampshire John H. Sununu [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=36411 Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988 ] ]
* Governor of South Carolina Carroll Campbell [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55211 Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]
* Former Governor of New Hampshire Hugh Gregg [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=36411 Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988 ] ]
* Former Governor of South Dakota Bill Janklow [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=35948 Our Campaigns - SD US President - R Primary Race - Feb 23, 1988 ] ]
* Reverend Jerry Falwell [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55211 Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]

Bob Dole
* Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55211 Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]
* Senator Warren Rudman of New Hampshire [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=36411 Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988 ] ]
* Senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=35948 Our Campaigns - SD US President - R Primary Race - Feb 23, 1988 ] ]
* Governor of South Dakota George S. Mickelson [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=35948 Our Campaigns - SD US President - R Primary Race - Feb 23, 1988 ] ]
* Representative Bill Emerson of Missouri [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264091 Our Campaigns - MO US President - R Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]

Jack Kemp
* House Minority Whip Trent Lott of Mississippi [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=55211 Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988 ] ]
* Senator Gordon Humphrey of New Hampshire [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=36411 Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988 ] ]
* Representative Robert C. Smith of New Hampshire [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=36411 Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988 ] ]
* Former Representative Paul Cornin of Massachusetts [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264113 Our Campaigns - MA US President - R Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988 ] ]

References