WI:Bob Dole Gets The 1988 Republican Nomination?

I'm not sure how plausilbe this is, since GHWB seems like tough cookie to beat, but what would happen if, somehow, Bob Dole got the Republican nomination in 1988?

1) For starters, how could he achieve this? What POD would be required, and how far back would it have to be?

2) Assumming Dole gets the Nomination, would the Democrats still nominate Dukakis? Who else might they nominate?

3) Running mates?

4) How would the race go down?

5) What would a Dole Presidency starting in 1989 look like? Would he be re-elected in 1992?

Any thought?
 
You'd have to have Bush be killed or incapacitated somehow, because he wins the GOP nomination easily. GHWB, despite his more moderate image, is backed by Reagan and Barry Goldwater. Even losing in New Hampshire (he won after going negative on Dole's taxation record IOTL 'stop lying about my record') means that Bush tactically retreats, and divisions of Administration 'shock troops' destroy Dole, and hand Bush the nomination. Remember that Lee Atwater is running Bush's campaign, and he makes Karl Rove look squeamish in comparison. Dole has no chance against Atwater/Rove led assaults.

Let's handwave and say that Dole gets the nomination. His running mate would have to be a conservative: I'd recommend Sen. Bob Kasten (R-WI), Feingold's predecessor in the Senate. He's only 46, which will help with the 65 year old Dole's age issues. If Dukakis allows himself to be defined by the GOP spin doctors, he is dead in the water. I suspect that Dukakis will make many of the same mistakes as OTL. Also, the GOP nominee will be riding on peace, prosperity, and Reagan's coattails. Whoever wins in 1988 will likely lose in 1992 or scrape through with a very narrow (under 300 EV) victory. I'd recommend Bush as Secretary of State, if he'd accept.
 
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