News Coverage of the Dukakis Presidency (1989-1993)

In the same tradition as the Russo-Chinese War thread beginning with a POD being that Dukakis wins the 1988 U.S. Presidential election, let's cover the Dukakis Presidency and international events in the form of newspaper articles, cable news coverage, etc.
 
"Hello and welcome to CNN's election coverage for this 1998 Presidential election . In a few short minutes we will begin to call some states in the East Coast once we have the availble information. We will only call the states when we have all of the information as necessary and our analysts will give you up to date synopsis of the results as they come in tonight.
The election to replace Ronald Reagan in the White House, and become the 41st President of the United States of America is between sitting Republican Vice-President George Bush and his running mate Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana, and the Democratic Party's nominee Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachuets and his running mate Senator Lloyd Bensten of Texas".
 
"We can now project both Pennsylvania, California and New York going for Michael Dukakis. Three significant states going for Dukakis and giving him a combined total of 107 electoral votes."
-CNN, election night, 10:45 PM
 
"After 75% of the votes in Indiana counted, CBS can now announce that Dukakis has won that state with a great margin"

CBS election night
 
"With just five states left to declare, CNN is still unable to call this election. Vice President Bush has 254 electoral votes whilst Governor Dukakis has 242 electoral votes. The States of Michigan (20 electoral votes)Washington (10 electoral votes), New Mexico (5 electoral votes),Montana (4 electoral votes) and South Dakota (3 electoral votes), will decide this election. At the moment Vice President Bush would only need to win Michigan to become the 41st President of the United States but with still with 78% of the state reporting we understand Governor Dukakis holds a lead of around 9,000 votes".
CNN, 2.30 AM.
 
"CNN is now ready to call the state of New Mexico for Governor Dukakis, making the electoral College count, Vice President Bush 254 electoral votes and Governor Dukakis 247 electoral votes. The sate of Michigan would on its own not be enough for Governor Dukakis to win the election he would still need to carry either Washington, Montana or South Dakota".
CNN, 2.50 AM.
 
"CNN is now ready to call the state of Washington for Vice President Bush gving him 264 electoral votes and just 6 electoral votes from the Presidency. If he was to carry both Montana and South Dakota he will be the next President of the United Staes ,even if he loses Michigan where he trails now by just 4,500 votes. Governor Dukakis needs to win Michigan and one other state of the two remaining.".
CNN , 3.25 AM.
 
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CBS 3,30 AM

"CBS now can call South Dakota Governor Dukakis after 100% of the votes is counted. Dukakis won by a margin of less than 1000 votes"
 
"To update this very close election, the current state of play is this.
Vice President Bush has 264 electoral votes, Governor Dukakis has 250 electoral votes, with just the states of Montana and Michigan left. If Bush wins Michigan he will be the winner, but Governor Dukakis needs to win both states and those 24 electoral votes still in play to win.
As we understand it at the moment, both states are very close. Michigan with now 89% votes in , Governor Dukakis lead is still holding around the 4,500 mark and in Montana with around 85% of the votes in, Governor Dukakis has a lead of around only 1,200 votes.".
CNN 3.45 AM.
 
"We are now going over live to the Dukakis Campaign headquarters in Massachuets, where we believe that the Chairman of the Democratic National Commitee, Paul G. Kirk has a statement to read to the vast numbers of Democratic supporters gathered outside
" It is clear that this election is very close and has come down to just two states Montana and Michigan. Beacuse of the closeness of both these states we not believe that a result will be possable within the next few hours. I ask all you, to allow all the votes to be counted, and some we can get the President that this great nation needs. I will take no further questions. Thank You".
CNN 5.00 AM.
 
"We can now finally call the state of Montana for Governor Dukakis. This leaves Governor Dukakis with 254 electoral votes and Vice President Bush with 264 electoral votes. Michigan is still too close to call. The election now hinges on Michigan."
-CBS, 7:45 AM
 
CNN 8:00 With 95% of the votes counted in Michigan vice-president Bush have eaten some of the gap between the two and the differense is now 1205 votes
 
"With 98% of the vote in, we can officially call Michigan for Governor Dukakis. Michael Dukakis is now officially the 41st President of the United States."
-CBS, 9:15 AM
 
"To re-cap the popular vote figures as we have them are:
Bush 45,885,597
Dukakis 45,798,089
Which means Bush has won the popular vote by just 178,508 votes"
CNN, Midday News
 
Actually I did not agree with the Indiana result, but Washington in real life was close with Dukakis beating Bush by around 29,000 votes. I gave this state to Bush instead.
People should not think of 1988 as 2008. 1988 was a very odd election, the close states then where not those that are today regarded as close states.
 
OOC: Indiana going for Dukakis, while Washington goes for Bush?

Hmmmm...:rolleyes:
Agreed. Indiana wasn't close in OTL. I looked it up. Bush won by 20 points, with around 60% of the vote. The election would have still been won if you kept those states the same as in OTL. But too late to change it now.

So anyway, should we just skip to inauguration day now?
 
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