1988 without the crime issue

[darklordoftech]

What if Dukakis didn't support furloughs or oppose the death penalty, or crime rates were lower, etc.?

[Progressive Pessimist]

Dukakis had a very good chance at winning the 1988 election from the beginning due to potential party fatigue and Iran-Contra. The crime issue was beaten like a dead horse against him and definitely contributed to his landslide loss. However, Dukakis was still perceived as weak on foreign policy which means that the Sterling Heights tank photo probably still would have humiliated him and Bush's team most likely would have levied more attacks based on foreign policy in his direction. So all in all, Dukakis possibly wins a few more states and improves in the popular vote but the negative campaigning and the likelihood that he still wouldn't be able to effectively defend against them, still would have sealed his fate.

[AtorBoltox]

It's amazing that crime rates were somehow a positive for Bush despite his party being in power the past 8 years

[darklordoftech]

It's amazing that crime rates were somehow a positive for Bush despite his party being in power the past 8 years

Keep in mind that Dukakis was absolutely unwilling to "go low". He fired John Sasso for accusing Biden from plaguerism, he could have talked about Iran-Contra, etc.