Do Presidential Campaigns matter?

[Notre Dame rules!]

Dukakis' tank escapade mad him look ridiculous rather than strong.  His dead-panned response to the death penalty question in regards to his wife made him look as warm as a block of ice, and finally, Willy Horton. 

The Willy Horton ads were some of the most effective ever.  It ranked up there with Reagan's 'Morning in America' ads and the 'Daisy' ad of '64      Bush 41 may owe his presidency to Al Gore dredging up Willy Horton during the Democrat primaries.

[Notre Dame rules!]

Dukakis knew the question was coming, as did both candidates during that debate.  That was his rehearsed response.   If that 's the best he could do with practice, then what would he have done without prepping?  Yikes!