Michael Dukakis 1988 presidential campaign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dukakis for President |
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| Campaign | 1988 U.S. presidential election |
| Candidate | Michael Dukakis |
| Affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Status | Lost election: November 8, 1988 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Key people | Susan Estrich (campaign manager) |
| Slogan | We’re on your side Good jobs at good wages Because the Best America has yet to Come |
The 1988 presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis was his effort to become the President of the United States. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Dukakis officially announced he was running for president on March 16, 1987, in a speech given in Boston.
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Michael Dukakis's Journey to the Nomination
Michael Dukakis worked hard to become the Democratic Party's choice for president. This process is called winning the "nomination." He competed against other candidates in his party.
Becoming the Democratic Nominee
After many months, Dukakis won enough support to become the official nominee. This happened at the Democratic Party's big meeting, called a convention. The convention took place in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 21, 1988. At this event, he officially accepted the nomination.
The 1988 Presidential Election
After becoming the Democratic nominee, Michael Dukakis faced his opponent in the main election. His opponent was George H. W. Bush, who was from the Republican Party. Bush was also the Vice President at that time.
Election Day Results
The election happened on November 8, 1988. Michael Dukakis did not win the election. George H. W. Bush became the new president.
Understanding Electoral and Popular Votes
In the United States, presidents are chosen by a system called the Electoral College. Each state gets a certain number of "electoral votes." To win, a candidate needs more than half of these votes.
- Dukakis won 10 states and the District of Columbia.
- He received 111 electoral votes.
- Bush received 426 electoral votes.
- One person who was supposed to vote for Dukakis actually voted differently. This person is called a "faithless elector."
The "popular vote" is the total number of individual votes cast by people.
- Dukakis received about 46% of the popular vote.
- Bush received about 54% of the popular vote.
Challenges During the Campaign
Many people looked at why Michael Dukakis lost the election. There were a few reasons that were often talked about.
The Famous Tank Photograph
One moment that many people remember was a photograph of Dukakis in a tank. This picture was taken on September 13, 1988. Many commentators felt this photo made Dukakis look awkward or not strong enough. This image became a big topic of discussion during the campaign.
Campaign Management Issues
Another reason often mentioned was how Dukakis's campaign was managed. Even though his campaign had a lot of money, some people thought it was not run very well. They believed this hurt his chances of winning.
A Historical First
If Michael Dukakis had won the election, he would have made history. He would have been the first Greek American president of the United States.
