H wouldn’t have won either, except people thought they were getting a Reagan third term.
>> H wouldn’t have won either, except people thought they were getting a Reagan third term. <<
That’s part of the story, to be sure. But only a part.
I think the other critical factor — and maybe more important — was that Dukakis turned out to be such a lousy candidate:
After the tank ride, the Willie Horton ad, and the debate answer about Kitty’s being raped, I’ve gotta think that ANY credible GOP candidate could have won.
(And don’t forget that early in the summer of 1988, Dukakis was ahead in the polls. It looked like maybe the country was ready to repudiate the party of Reagan. The Duke’s collapse came later, after the USA really got to know him.)