1988- What should Dukakis have done differently?

[sg0508]

In the end, the 1988 race turned out closer than many thought it would be.  Bush had four huge advantages going in:

1) Reagan's popularity

2) The economy from the 80s was still good.  The fizzle out didn't come until 1990.

3) The Berlin Wall coming down and Bush's foreign policy experience

4) An electoral college that appeared to be unpenetrable for democrats

Still, after falling behind big following the DNC, Bush pulled far ahead with the debates, until a late Dukakis rally made the final margin in the popular vote respectable.  The electoral college was closer than the actual results tallied, with Dukakis coming very, very close in CA ("final gift from Reagan"), MD, PA, VT, IL and a few others.  Partially due to drought conditions, the Plains states were also tighter than normal.

In the end, Bush's performance in the white collar suburbs swamped Dukakis and proved to be the difference.   What if anything could Dukakis have done differently?  Obviously, his lack of charisma didn't help his cause, but Bush didn't exactly run a great campaign too.  Some have said over time that Bush's answer was always to follow Reagan's footsteps.