1988: Dukakis vs. Ford

[JonathanSwift]

In 1980, Ronald Reagan selects former President Gerald Ford to be his running mate. Eight years later, Vice President Ford runs for and wins the Republican nomination. How does he fare against Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis? Please discuss with maps.

[Kingpoleon]

474: Vice Pres. Gerald Ford(R-MI)/Gov. Thomas Kean(R-NJ) - 54.5%
064: Gov. Michael Dukakis(D-MA)/Rep. Joseph Brennan(D-ME) - 44.2%

Gerald Ford's campaign slogan "A Change Has Come Over America" and everyday man style campaigning wins him a solid re-election. Despite primary challenges from both Pete McCloskey(who won New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island) and Pat Buchanan(who won South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana), Ford wins the election. He is also partially helped by the intellectual Representative Newt Gingrich's keynote speech and several fairly major gaffes by Dukakis.

[Dancing with Myself]

Ford gets a solid win in a less negative and more enjoyable race unlike in RL 1988. Ford does attack Dukakis when the need arises but it's nowhere as devastating so no Willie Horton/furlough ads but the Boston Harbor and Tank ads still happen. Dukakis still doesn't do well at the debates and Ford has decent performances. Dukakis never gives up but thanks to how well things are going and Ford's smooth campaign he wins solidly. Democrats have plenty to look forward to in 1992.


Ford/Baker-376 EV's
Dukakis/Bentsen-162 EV's

[Mr. Smith]

Ford loses, like his error of 1976 he tries to warn everyone of Dukakis' liberalness, but Dukakis like Reagan in 1980 deflects and speaks of his Massachusetts miracle and runs a positive campaign mostly, and he has Lloyd Bentsen as the attack dog once in a while.

Dukakis/Bentsen: 297 EV, 49% PV
Ford/Kemp 241 EV, 48% PV


The only reason it wasn't a bigger blow out was because like 1976, neither candidate was really charismatic enough to land a really good attack. Ultimately the farming crisis and GOP fatigue helped Dukakis.

[President Johnson]

Ford sweep back into office.

Former President and Vice President Gerald Ford/Representative Jack Kemp: 441 EV. (54.19%)[/b]
Governor Michael Dukakis/Senator Llyod Bentsen: 97 EV. (45.05%)