In 1988, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis narrowly defeated Vice President George Bush. Powered by campaign manager John Sasso, Dukakis' aggressive candidacy assailed Bush's flip-flopping on social issues, Iran-Contra, and the high federal deficits under President Reagan. In contrast, Dukakis highlighted his successful economic stewardship of Massachusetts and avoided any major gaffes. While Bush put up a spirited fight that attacked Dukakis' social liberalism, his poor choice of running mate and inability to escape the perception that he was "out of touch" with everyday voters cost him the election. In the end, Dukakis won with 280 electoral votes to Bush's 258. What if Dukakis had lost the election?
 
Perhaps America would be spared the Dole presidency. A lot of people were surprised that he chose not to run in 1992 and instead the GOP went with the weak “unity” candidate of Dornan. Perhaps this is just a Brit looking in but I wonder if President Dukakis’ criticism of Thatcher led to Kinnock. Maybe we would have seen Thatcher carry on instead of her being toppled in ‘89 after her poll tax plans began to be put out. Bush as president would have been interesting, those tax cut promises don’t seem sustainable.
 
Perhaps America would be spared the Dole presidency. A lot of people were surprised that he chose not to run in 1992 and instead the GOP went with the weak “unity” candidate of Dornan. Perhaps this is just a Brit looking in but I wonder if President Dukakis’ criticism of Thatcher led to Kinnock. Maybe we would have seen Thatcher carry on instead of her being toppled in ‘89 after her poll tax plans began to be put out. Bush as president would have been interesting, those tax cut promises don’t seem sustainable.

Given that the GOP will have been in power for 12 years and Bush would almost certainly have to break his pledge not to raise taxes, 1992 would be a Democratic year. The question is who would run and win? Perhaps Gore and Gephardt would make a run, Bill Bradley would be a top contender as well. There's always Cuomo, but from what I've read he just didn't really want to be President.
 
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