Misplaced Pages

1988 Democratic vice presidential nomination

← 1984 July 18, 1988 (1988-07-18) 1992 →

Nominee Lloyd Bentsen Home state Texas

Previous Vice Presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro Vice Presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1988 election. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis won the 1988 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and chose Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen as his running mate. Dukakis chose Bentsen in order to appeal to Southerners and in hopes of carrying Bentsen's home state of Texas. The strategy failed, as the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket went on to lose Texas and all other states in the South except West Virginia. The choice of Bentsen caused some backlash from Jesse Jackson, who had wanted to be chosen as the vice presidential nominee, and progressives such as Ralph Nader. Paul Brountas, a longtime Dukakis aide, led the search for Dukakis's running mate. The Dukakis–Bentsen ticket ultimately lost to the Bush–Quayle ticket in the general election. Bentsen simultaneously ran for reelection as Senator, and easily won, despite the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket's double-digit loss in Texas.

Possible running mates

Final Seven

• Senator and 1976 presidential candidate
  Lloyd Bentsen
  from Texas
  (1971–1993)
• Representative and 1988 presidential candidate
  Dick Gephardt
  from Missouri
  (1977–2005)
• Senator and 1984 presidential candidate
  John Glenn
  from Ohio
  (1974–1999)
• Senator and 1988 presidential candidate
  Al Gore
  from Tennessee
  (1985–1993)
• Senator and 1988 presidential candidate
  Bob Graham
  from Florida
  (1987–2005)
• Representative
  Lee H. Hamilton
  from Indiana
  (1965–1999)
• Reverend and 1984/1988 presidential candidate
  Jesse Jackson
  from South Carolina

Media speculation on possible vice presidential candidates

• Senator
  Bill Bradley
  from New Jersey
  (1979–1997)
• Senator
  Sam Nunn
  from Georgia
  (1972–1997)

See also

• Michael Dukakis 1988 presidential campaign
• 1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries
• 1988 Democratic National Convention
• 1988 United States presidential election
• List of United States major party presidential tickets
• Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy

References

1. ^ Toner, Robin (July 13, 1988). "DUKAKIS PICKS BENTSEN FOR RUNNING MATE; TEXAN ADDS CONSERVATIVE VOICE TO TICKET; A REGIONAL BALANCE". New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
2. Staff writer (July 13, 1988). "Dukakis Chooses Texas Sen. Bentsen as Running Mate". Washington Post. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
3. Crawford, J. Craig (July 13, 1988). "Texan Bentsen To Run With Dukakis Choice Could Hold Key To Votes -- Also Trouble". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 4, 2015.

• Democratic Party (United States) vice presidential nominees
• 1988 United States presidential election
• Lloyd Bentsen
• Al Gore
• Jesse Jackson