Was Dukakis the Bloomberg to Hart’s Biden in 1988?

[darklordoftech]

Just as Bloomberg emerged as a backup candidate for Biden supporters when Biden seemed to be fizzling out in 2020, was Dukakis a backup candidate for Hart supporters when Hart fizzled out?

[Benjamin Frank]

It was regarded as a wide open race when Hart dropped out.  The candidates were referred to as 'the Seven Dwarfs' in contrast to those who were regarded as the potential star candidates who didn't run: Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley (who received a lot of credit for the tax reform of 1986) and New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

However:
1.There were many doubts that Hart would win the nomination even before the whole Donna Rice stuff.

2.Dukakis was considered to be one of the front runners even before the Gary Hart Donna Rice stuff.