Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1988
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| 1988 | ||||
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| Nominee | George H. W. Bush | Bob Dole | Pat Robertson | |
| Party | Republican | Republican | Republican | |
| Home state | Texas | Kansas | Virginia | |
| States carried | 41 | 5 | 4 | |
| Popular vote | 8,253,512 | 2,333,375 | 1,097,446 | |
| Percentage | 67.90% | 19.19% | 5.02% | |
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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. Surprisingly, Bush faced some prominent challengers for the GOP nomination, despite his heavy front runner status.
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[edit] Candidates
[edit] Nominee
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Vice President George H.W. Bush of Texas |
[edit] Withdrew during primary elections
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Former Governor Pierre S. du Pont, IV of Delaware |
Teleevangelist Pat Robertson of Virginia |
[edit] Withdrew before primary elections
 Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig |
 Former U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada |
 Former Governor Harold E. Stassen of Minnesota |
[edit] Campaign
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. 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. 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."[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, "Read my lips: No new taxes", a comment that would come to haunt him in the 1992 elections.
[edit] Endorsements
George H. W. Bush
- President Ronald Reagan (announced May 12, 1988)
- Former Senator and 1964 Presidential nominee Barry Goldwater of Arizona[2]
- Representative Richard H. Baker of Louisiana
- Former Senator James Broyhill of North Carolina
- Representative Howard Coble of North Carolina
- Montgomery Mayor Emory Folmar of Alabama
- Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
- Representative Bob Ney of Ohio
- Governor of New Hampshire John H. Sununu[3]
- Governor of South Carolina Carroll Campbell[2]
- Former Governor of New Hampshire Hugh Gregg[4]
- Representative Thomas Hartnett of South Carolina
- Former Governor of South Dakota Bill Janklow[5]
- Reverend Jerry Falwell[2]
- Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez of Florida
- Former Army Chief of Staff William Westmoreland of South Carolina
Bob Dole
- Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina[2]
- Senator Warren Rudman of New Hampshire[6]
- Senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota[7]
- Governor of South Dakota George S. Mickelson[8]
- Representative Bill Emerson of Missouri[9]
Jack Kemp
- Former Governor Joseph J. Foss of South Dakota
- House Minority Whip Trent Lott of Mississippi[2]
- Representative Newt Gingrich of Georgia
- Senator Gordon Humphrey of New Hampshire[10]
- Representative Robert C. Smith of New Hampshire[11]
- Former Representative Paul Cronin of Massachusetts[12]
- Ralph Reed of Georgia
[edit] Results
[edit] Statewide
| George H.W. Bush | Bob Dole | Pat Robertson | Jack Kemp | Pete du Pont | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 8 | Iowa caucus | 19% | 37% | 25% | 11% | 7% |
| February 16 | New Hampshire | 38% | 29% | 9% | 13% | 10% |
| February 23 | South Dakota | 19% | 55% | 20% | 5% | 1% |
| February 28 | Maine | 64% | 8% | 14% | 2% | 0% |
| March 1 | Vermont | 49% | 39% | 5% | 4% | 2% |
| March 5 | South Carolina | 49% | 21% | 19% | 11% | 0% |
| March 8 | Alabama | 65% | 16% | 14% | 5% | 0% |
| March 8 | Arkansas | 47% | 26% | 19% | 5% | 1% |
| March 8 | Florida | 62% | 21% | 11% | 5% | 1% |
| March 8 | Georgia | 54% | 24% | 16% | 6% | 0% |
| March 8 | Kentucky | 59% | 23% | 11% | 3% | 0% |
| March 8 | Louisiana | 58% | 18% | 18% | 5% | 1% |
| March 8 | Maryland | 53% | 32% | 6% | 6% | 1% |
| March 8 | Massachusetts | 59% | 26% | 5% | 7% | 1% |
| March 8 | Mississippi | 66% | 17% | 13% | 3% | 0% |
| March 8 | Missouri | 42% | 41% | 11% | 4% | 0% |
| March 8 | North Carolina | 45% | 39% | 10% | 4% | 0% |
| March 8 | Oklahoma | 37% | 36% | 21% | 5% | 0% |
| March 8 | Rhode Island | 65% | 23% | 6% | 5% | 1% |
| March 8 | Tennessee | 60% | 22% | 13% | 4% | 0% |
| March 8 | Texas | 64% | 14% | 15% | 5% | 0% |
| March 8 | Virginia | 53% | 26% | 14% | 5% | 1% |
| March 15 | Illinois | 55% | 36% | 7% | 1% | 1% |
| March 29 | Connecticut | 71% | 20% | 3% | 3% | 0% |
| April 5 | Wisconsin | 82% | 8% | 7% | 1% | 0% |
| April 26 | Pennsylvania | 79% | 12% | 9% | 0% | 0% |
| May 3 | District of Columbia | 88% | 7% | 4% | 0% | 0% |
| May 3 | Indiana | 80% | 10% | 7% | 3% | 0% |
| May 3 | Ohio | 81% | 12% | 7% | 0% | 0% |
| May 10 | Nebraska | 68% | 22% | 5% | 4% | 0% |
| May 10 | West Virginia | 77% | 11% | 7% | 3% | 0% |
| May 17 | Oregon | 73% | 18% | 8% | 0% | 0% |
| May 24 | Idaho | 81% | 0% | 9% | 0% | 0% |
| June 7 | California | 83% | 13% | 4% | 0% | 0% |
| June 7 | Montana | 73% | 19% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| June 7 | New Jersey | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| June 7 | New Mexico | 78% | 10% | 6% | 0% | 0% |
| June 14 | North Dakota | 93% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
[edit] Nationwide
Popular vote results:[2]
- 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. du Pont IV - 49,783 (0.41%)
- Alexander M. Haig - 26,619 (0.22%)
- Harold Stassen - 2,682 (0.01%)
[edit] References
- ^ Dillin, John (February 18, 1988). "Even with win, Bush seen to be vulnerable". Christian Science Monitor: p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Feb 01, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - SD US President - R Primary Race - Feb 23, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - SD US President - R Primary Race - Feb 23, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - SD US President - R Primary Race - Feb 23, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - MO US President - R Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - NH US President - R Primary Race - Feb 16, 1988
- ^ Our Campaigns - MA US President - R Primary Race - Mar 08, 1988
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