1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries


From February 8 to June 14, 1988, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1988 United States presidential election. Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1988 Democratic National Convention held from July 18 to July 21, 1988, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Background

Having been badly defeated in the 1984 presidential election, the Democrats in 1985 and 1986 were eager to find a new approach to win the presidency. They created the Democratic Leadership Council, with the aim of recruiting a candidate for the 1988 election.
The large gains in the 1986 mid-term elections and the continuing Iran–Contra affair gave Democrats confidence in the run-up to the primary season.

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated at Convention

Withdrew during primaries

Candidates who received less than 1%

Withdrew before primaries

Declined

Polling

Nationwide polling

1986
Poll sourcePublication
GallupJan 10-13, 19861%1%8%8%1%-*22%-3%2%47%18%16%3%3%6%1%5%
GallupApril 11-14, 19861%1%6%7%2%-*27%-4%1%39%14%18%2%5%6%2%2%
GallupJune 9-16, 1986**7%7%***22%-4%*34%26%17%*3%6%*3%
GallupJune 9-16, 1986-------30%---55%-------
GallupJune 9-16, 1986-----------59%28%------
GallupJune 9-16, 1986-----------75%-14%-----
GallupSeptember 3-17, 1986-------29%---54%-------
GallupSeptember 3-17, 1986-----------58%29%------
GallupSeptember 3-17, 1986-----------74%-15%-----
GallupOctober 24-27, 1986**8%7%***27%3%**32%26%14%*3%6%*3%

1987
Poll sourcePublication
Washington Post - ABC-NewsJanuary 15-19, 19872%1%---18%-1%-39%-13%4%----
GallupJan 16-19, 19871%2%11%4%-23%3%1%-53%29%21%5%6%---
GallupJan 16-19, 1987-----23%---60%-------
New York Times - CBS-NewsJan 18-21, 19871%1%---17%1%2%-33%-9%3%----
Washington Post - ABC-NewsMarch 5-9, 19871%1%-3%--4%3%-46%-14%4%2%---
GallupApril 10-13, 19874%2%----7%6%6%--27%----12%
Washington Post - ABC-NewsMay 4, 1987------9%--36%-12%-----
New York Times - CBS-NewsMay 5-6, 19871%1%----6%4%-32%-10%--1%--
GallupMay 6-7, 19872%1%----11%7%6%--22%--9%-5%
New York Times - CBS-NewsMay 11-14, 19872%2%--2%-11%4%5%--17%--6%--
New York Times - CBS-NewsMay 11-14, 19873%1%6%-2%25%6%3%4%--12%4%-5%--
Washington Post - ABC-NewsMay 28-June 2, 19874%3%---*11%10%5%--25%--13%--
GallupJune 8-14, 19872%7%----11%7%5%--18%--7%-5%
GallupJuly 10-13, 19872%4%----13%3%8%--17%--7%-2%
New York Times - CBS-NewsJuly 21-22, 19873%4%----8%3%7%--14%--7%5%3%
GallupAug. 24-Sep. 2, 19872%3%----13%6%8%--19%--7%6%2%
Gallup - Times Mirror Co.Sep. 1-13, 19871%4%----15%7%6%--24%--7%3%3%
Washington Post - ABC-NewsSeptember 17-23, 19874%6%----12%8%7%--23%--7%--
GallupOctober 23-26, 19871%-----14%5%7%--22%--8%-*
Washington Post - ABC-NewsDecember 13-15, 19874%6%----15%8%7%30%-20%--7%--
New York Times - CBS-NewsDecember 15, 19872%-----9%1%5%21%-17%--4%--
New York Times - CBS-NewsDecember 15, 19874%-----11%3%5%--22%--5%--
GallupDec. 7-28, 19873%-----10%2%5%31%-13%--10%-26%

1988
Head-to-head polling
Poll sourcePublicationSample
size		Margin
of error
GallupJune 9–16, 1986452 RV±6.0%30%55%–—15%
GallupJune 9–16, 1986452 RV±6.0%–59%28%—13%
GallupJune 9–16, 1986452 RV±6.0%—75%–14%11%