Why was Dukakis so weak in the South?

[President Johnson]

I know the South already drifted away from the Democrats by 1988, but they still had a significant base of power in this part of the United States. Despite, Dukakis was extremly weak in South. In most states of the former confederacy, he got totally blown out by double digits (in some cases 20 points; states that were later won by Clinton). Only Missouri in the upper South was somewhat close. Why did Dukakis so poorly here or why was Poppy Bush so strong?

Bill Clinton by comparison did much better, but made it such a difference he was a Southerner himself? If so, this effect somewhat faded away quickly after his reelection 1996 because because Al Gore didn't benefit much from his heritage (though he did better in the South than Kerry in 2004). Lloyd Bentsen also didn't really help Dukakis in the South the way LBJ did for JFK.

[Del Tachi]

Bush's campaign strategy was to paint Dukakis as an ultra-radical, New England liberal with sympathies for the ACLU and flag burners.   Dukakis was pretty bad at countering these attacks, claiming he was "proud to be a liberal".  This obviously didn't play very well in the South.

By 1992, the economy was in recession and the Democratic ticket was two, moderate Southerners.

[darklordoftech]

Dukakis was a bad fit for the South in every way. From New England, anti-death-penalty, pro-choice, pro-Affirmative Action, a Professor, a policy wonk, etc.

[Mr. Smith]

Willie. Horton.  End of story.

And ftr, he was leading in much of the Upper South that Clinton went onto win until that bit of sabotage happened.  Although the stunt with the tank was hardly a good look either for a bunch of neocons.

[Indy Texas]

Dukakis was a bad fit for the South in every way. From New England, anti-death-penalty, pro-choice, pro-Affirmative Action, a Professor, a policy wonk, etc.

To be fair, Poppy Bush wasn't a great fit for the South either, but then he discovered the power of race-baiting.

[darklordoftech]

Dukakis was a bad fit for the South in every way. From New England, anti-death-penalty, pro-choice, pro-Affirmative Action, a Professor, a policy wonk, etc.

To be fair, Poppy Bush wasn't a great fit for the South either, but then he discovered the power of race-baiting.

Poppy's 1980 campaign was a bad fit for the South, but his 1988 campaign was a perfect fit for the South.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

Willie. Horton.  End of story.

And ftr, he was leading in much of the Upper South that Clinton went onto win until that bit of sabotage happened.  Although the stunt with the tank was hardly a good look either for a bunch of neocons.

Not just states Clinton won like KY & AR, Bentsen was campaigning in OK just a month before the election. Obviously polling showed it somewhat close.