Gov. Tom Bradley in 1988

[Sir Mohamed]

LA Mayor Tom Bradley came within an inch of being elected governor of CA in 1982. His narrow loss became famous as the Bradley effect. What if Bradley actually won the gov race, got reelected in 1986 and ran 4 prez in 1988? If nominated, how would he have done in the GE if everything else remains the same?

[MIKESOWELL]

Worse than Dukakis. Much worse.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Worse than Dukakis. Much worse.

Sadly, yes.  But he MAY have carried California.

Bradley's loss in 1982 was as much due to Jerry Brown Fatigue as it was due to his race.  (Brown lost his Senate race even worse.) 

Now if a Governor Bradley had been Dukakis's running mate, that would have been different.  He MIGHT have improved Dukakis's showing.  Maybe.

[morgankingsley]

I dont know about worse than Dukakis, but he still loses

[MIKESOWELL]

I dont know about worse than Dukakis, but he still loses

We're talking about thirty years ago. The country was not ready to elect an African American as president, and I'm convinced that Bradley would have lost even worse than Dukakis.

[coolface1572]

He might have won CA, but he would not have done as well in the midwest. Also, he probably wouldn't have won WV. Same goes for Washington. Bush might have even won Hawaii. Though Bradley might have been able to pick up Maryland with larger black turnout.