1988 Presidential Election

The **1988 United States presidential election** held on Tuesday, November 8, 1988. Incumbent Liberty Coalition President Kevin O'Leary won a decisive victory over Senator James Brown, marking the first time a presidential candidate not from the Democratic nor Republican parties won reelection since Abraham Lincoln in 1864.

O'Leary was renominated without incident by the Liberty Coalition Party; however, incumbent Vice President Conan O'Brien stepped down from renomination, which subsequently followed by the nomination of Iris Stanford, the Secretary of Economics, as the Vice President. Numerous candidates entered the 1988 Democratic primaries, with Lincoln Senator Walter White considered the early frontrunner. James Brown, a Southern Democrat Senator, managed to just clinch the nomination, with a strong showing across the South & the Midwest.

President O'Leary's chances of reelection were considered high due to the strong economic recovery experienced during his administration, with O'Leary touting his tax cuts and falling unemployment rates. Initial head-to-head polling between O'Leary and Brown indicated a landslide race; however, Brown throughout the race reoriented his campaigning message towards more liberal voters, running on a pledge to increase the education & welfare budgets, liberal abortion policies, and touting bills such as the Violence Against Women Act, while appealing to Southern conservatives with "tough-on-crime" rhetoric.

O'Leary maintained a consistent polling advantage over Brown, and won re-election by a substantial electoral college and popular vote margin. Despite Brown's loss, every single state won by Brown with the exception of Georgia voted for President O'Leary in 1984, with almost every state except Maryland, Hawaii, and D.C. voting for Brown by a close margin, as well as O'Leary just clinching the states of Pennsylvania, Washington, and Florida. Even with O'Leary large victory, Brown's performance was considered impressive, and cemented the Democrat's position as a strong opposition party to O'Leary and the Conservative Bloc as a whole.

## Nominations and Primaries

### **Liberty Coalition Primary**

#### **Candidates**

* Kevin O'Leary, Incumbent Presdident; Liberty Coalition House Leader (1983-1985); House Rep. from CA-2 (1983-1985)

### Democrat Primary

#### **Candidates**

* Walter White, Senator from Lincoln (1987-Present); Governor of Indiana (1985-1987)
* James Brown, Senator From Dixie (1987-Present); Governor of Georgia (1983-1987)
* Rudy Perpich, Governor of Minnesota (1983-1987)

#### **Withdrew Before Primary**

* Marianne Williamson, Author
* Ross Parrot, House Rep. From KS-1 (1987-Present)
* Blanche Lincoln, House Rep. From VA-2 (1987-Present);Governor of Virginia (1986-1987)

#### **Primary Results**

1988 Democratic Primaries

**Convention Roll Call**

### Christian Democratic Union Primary

#### **Nominee**

Rather then hold a primary the CDU chose to endorse incumbent Kevin O'Leary rather then run their own candidate. To quote from Randy Economy

*"The CDU and Liberty Coalition are and will continue to be separate parties,* with different ideals and policies. We will continue to push for the values and ideas brought to us in the words and teachings of Jesus Christ"

#### **Candidates**

* Jet Comet, Governor of Nebraska (1983-1987)
* Elizabeth Harris, House Rep. From UT-1 (1985-1987)

## Opinion Polling

### Democratic Primary

Q1, 1985

 Marianne Williamson | Great Society | 0%

Q1, 1987

 Blanche Lincoln | Blue Dog | 18%

### Pre-Primary

1988 Hypothetical Head-to-head

*(Note: All states MOE: +/- 3.0%)*

### Post-Primary

1988 Presidential Poll, Q1

1988 Presidential Poll, Q2