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The 1988 Michigan Republican Delegate Caucus
January 12th, 1988
"How's it looking on the ground, Ted?" Two days before the first contest in the Republican primaries, set to take place in Michigan, Jerry Falwell was on the phone with the campaign director in the state.
"Well, the enthusiasm is just great here for us, but this damn process is going to screw us!" Ted sounded stressed, frazzled, and as if he hadn't slept in a good two weeks.
"I definitely agree with you there. Of course that goddamn Bush is going to have the advantage when this God forsaken process began in August two years ago. I didn't even know who Dan was then. The people should be the ones voting, not some self-important delegate bastards! Do we have a chance at all?"
There was a pause on the other end, before a question broke the quiet.
"Do you want honesty, sir?" Falwell chuckled.
"Yes, son, honesty is the best policy."
"We aren't going to win here. The President has too deep of roots to make such a comeback. That's the truth of the matter. We'll make a good showing, but we won't win." Falwell thought before responding.
"Well, how close can we make this thing?" There was another pause on the other end.
"Sir, some of the delegates in our corner have been talking regarding a secondary plan if it was clear we weren't going to win. In a show of opposition, they want to walk out of their respective caucus locations, in an effort---" Ted was cut off by shouting.
"NO! Do you hear me, goddammit?"
"Uhh, yes, sir." There was legitimate fear in poor Ted's voice.
"Listen to me, and listen good. You get those delegates on the line right now, and you tell them to stay at those god damned caucuses and vote for JAMES. DANFORTH. QUAYLE. Got it?"
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir." Falwell nodded, his color returning to normal.
"Good. This is a legitimate campaign, not some two bit movement. You get your men in line by Thursday or me and you are gonna have problems, you got that?"
"Yes, sir. I'll get right on it, sir."
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January 14th, 1988
The results of the 1988 Michigan Republican Delegate Caucus
George H.W. Bush - 620 delegates (52%)
Dan Quayle - 453 delegates (38%)
Jack Kemp - 72 delegates (6%)
Bob Dole -36 delegates (3%)
Pete Du Pont - 12 delegates (1%)
"How's it looking on the ground, Ted?" Two days before the first contest in the Republican primaries, set to take place in Michigan, Jerry Falwell was on the phone with the campaign director in the state.
"Well, the enthusiasm is just great here for us, but this damn process is going to screw us!" Ted sounded stressed, frazzled, and as if he hadn't slept in a good two weeks.
"I definitely agree with you there. Of course that goddamn Bush is going to have the advantage when this God forsaken process began in August two years ago. I didn't even know who Dan was then. The people should be the ones voting, not some self-important delegate bastards! Do we have a chance at all?"
There was a pause on the other end, before a question broke the quiet.
"Do you want honesty, sir?" Falwell chuckled.
"Yes, son, honesty is the best policy."
"We aren't going to win here. The President has too deep of roots to make such a comeback. That's the truth of the matter. We'll make a good showing, but we won't win." Falwell thought before responding.
"Well, how close can we make this thing?" There was another pause on the other end.
"Sir, some of the delegates in our corner have been talking regarding a secondary plan if it was clear we weren't going to win. In a show of opposition, they want to walk out of their respective caucus locations, in an effort---" Ted was cut off by shouting.
"NO! Do you hear me, goddammit?"
"Uhh, yes, sir." There was legitimate fear in poor Ted's voice.
"Listen to me, and listen good. You get those delegates on the line right now, and you tell them to stay at those god damned caucuses and vote for JAMES. DANFORTH. QUAYLE. Got it?"
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir." Falwell nodded, his color returning to normal.
"Good. This is a legitimate campaign, not some two bit movement. You get your men in line by Thursday or me and you are gonna have problems, you got that?"
"Yes, sir. I'll get right on it, sir."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 14th, 1988
The results of the 1988 Michigan Republican Delegate Caucus
George H.W. Bush - 620 delegates (52%)
Dan Quayle - 453 delegates (38%)
Jack Kemp - 72 delegates (6%)
Bob Dole -36 delegates (3%)
Pete Du Pont - 12 delegates (1%)
- Gentleman Biaggi
- Word Count: 400