Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1988

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1984 Flag of the United States 1992
Republican Presidential Primaries, 1988
1988
Nominee George H. W. Bush Bob Dole Pat Robertson
Party Republican Republican Republican
Home state Texas Kansas Virginia
States carried 41 5 4
Popular vote 8,253,512 2,333,375 1,097,446
Percentage 67.90% 19.19% 5.02%
Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1988

1988 Republican Party Presidential primaries and caucuses

Vice President George H. W. Bush had the support of President Ronald Reagan, and pledged to continue Reagan's policies, but also pledged a "kinder and gentler nation" in an attempt to win over some more moderate voters. Nevertheless, Bush faced challenges from the following candidates for the GOP nomination:

During the start of the presidential primary election season in early 1988, Robertson's campaign was attacked because of a statement he had made about his military service. In his campaign literature, he stated he was a combat Marine who served in the Korean War. Other Marines in his battalion contradicted Robertson's version, claiming he had never spent a day in a combat environment. They asserted that instead of fighting in the war, Robertson's primary responsibility was supplying alcoholic beverages for his officers. (see Education and military service)

Robertson's campaign got off to a strong second-place finish in the Iowa caucus, ahead of Bush.[10]

Robertson did poorly in the subsequent New Hampshire primary, however, and was unable to be competitive once the multiple-state primaries began. Robertson ended his campaign before the primaries were finished. His best finish was in Washington, winning the majority of caucus delegates. However, his controversial win has been credited to procedural manipulation by Robertson supporters who delayed final voting until late into the evening when other supporters had gone home.[11][12] He later spoke at the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans and told his remaining supporters to cast their votes for Bush, who ended up winning the nomination and the election. He then returned to CBN and has remained there as a religious broadcaster.


Bush unexpectedly came in third in the Iowa caucus (that he had won back in 1980), behind winner Dole and Robertson. Dole was also leading in the polls of the New Hampshire primary, and the Bush camp responded by running television commercials portraying Dole as a tax raiser, while Governor John H. Sununu stumped for Bush. These efforts enabled the Vice President to defeat Dole and gain crucial momentum. After his loss Dole was bitter about his defeat, going on TV to tell Bush to "stop lying about my record."[1]

Once the multiple-state primaries such as Super Tuesday began, Bush's organizational strength and fundraising lead were impossible for the other candidates to match, and the nomination was his. The Republican party convention was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bush was nominated unanimously. Bush selected U.S. Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana as his running mate.

In his acceptance speech, Bush made an energetic pledge, "Read my lips: No new taxes", a comment that would come to haunt him in the 1992 elections.

Contents

[edit] Primaries detail

[edit] Statewide contests by winner

Only three candidates (Bush, Dole and Robertson) won any statewide contest[2]

Bush

Dole

Robertson

Popular vote results:[3]

[edit] Notable endorsements

George H. W. Bush

Bob Dole

Jack Kemp

[edit] References