Gore, Bentsen, or Clinton would have been the Dems best chances in 1988. Dukakis was a primary ruler but when it got to the general he proved he wasn't capable of running a center campaign or be man enough to defend himself from attacks. He was simply incompetent to lead both as a candidate and his organization wasn't right either.
Gore could very well have a Clinton effect 4 years earlier. He wasn't as liberal as he was in later years and could reach more to the center so if he could get the basic base excited he would have had a chance. Besides Bush Sr didn't really light the world on fire that year he ran a bland campaign made worse by a horrendous VP selection. He only took off once Dukakis got into the groove of doing foolish things and making himself a punching bag.
The only Dem I see going Indy is Jesse Jackson maybe but I doubt it. He'd probably help Gore campaign in the south because he did so well there in the primaries. As for his VP I see either sticking with Bentsen, going with Boren, or pulling a 180 and getting Bill to be his vp but since it's a thread I'll stick with Boren I guess.
Gore/Boren-313
Bush/Quayle-225
Gore's main test would be to connect with the Reagan Democrats that had been lost to the Dems since 1980. He would also have to respond to Bush's attacks on his age and other deals. However he would win by making gains in the south by picking off several states and upsetting Bush in Cali and Michigan.
