1988: back to the future

[J. J.]

Seems very interesting but one thing really stick out: The whole Ford thing is odd because he'd be 75 in '88.

yes, but keep in mind, dole was something like 73 in 1996.

Dole was 65, GHW Bush was 64.  Dole's age hurt him in 1996.

Dole gets the GOP nomination that year, and possibly chooses Kemp.

Ford was well out of step with the GOP in 1988; the party had drifted much further to the right since 1976.