Did Mike Dukakis gain or lose electoral ground in the final weeks?

[Mr.Phips]

Dukakis really didn't crater until that second debate in early October where he made the whole flap about the death penalty for someone who raped and murdered his wife. Before that, he actually wasn't doing the badly.  He was ahead in places like Arkansas and very close in some border states.  After that debate, he fell behind by double digits and was trailing everywhere but Massachussetts, Iowa. Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Minnesota I believe.  His comeback in the last two weeks likely gave him Wisconsin, West Virginia, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

[Mr.Phips]

The Bush camp was trembling in their boots as the polls closed on election day. Michigan at the top of the 8 o'clock hour and Ohio moments after was good news. Illinois was called for Dukakis and then given to Bush the morning after the election. Dukakis did well with women on the West Coast. I am blessed to have full length coverage of a series of American elections on DVD and '88 is my favorite besides '96 to watch.

Yes.  This was the first election with leaked exit polls and they were awful.  They had Dukakis fractionally ahead in the popular vote.