Too bad that this year we aren't coming off of an extremely popular Republican president, who won by landslide proportions.
Bush was a shoo in. McCain isn't.
The GOP wasn't as popular in 1988 as people like to believe. Neither was Reagan.
I know that. Don't forget Dukakis was an atrocious candidate, who was easily perceived as a typical liberal Democrat. Frankly, the ticket may have had a chance if Bentsen was at the top of the ticket.
I disagree that Reagan was unpopular, but please correct me if I'm twisting your words.