The Living Room Candidate is an online archive of presidential campaign commercials, covering every election from 1952 to 2012. In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the top 10 living room candidate commercials from the 1988 presidential campaign.Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2012
As the country was facing a changing political landscape, the 1988 presidential campaign commercials showcased the candidates' strategies and messages to appeal to voters. The Living Room Candidate has preserved and made available these commercials for us to see the evolution of political advertising. Let's dive into the top 10 living room candidate commercials from this historic election.1988 Presidential Campaign Commercials - The Living Room Candidate
One of the most memorable commercials from the 1988 campaign was the Dukakis "Tank" ad. This ad showed Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis riding in a tank, portraying him as weak on national defense. This ad was heavily criticized and is often cited as one of the reasons for Dukakis' loss in the election.The Dukakis "Tank" Ad
The infamous Willie Horton ad was used by George H.W. Bush's campaign to attack Dukakis' record on crime. The ad featured a convicted murderer who had been released from prison under a program supported by Dukakis. This ad sparked controversy and is considered one of the most effective negative ads in political history.The Willie Horton Ad
On the other hand, the Bush campaign also had a positive ad that struck a chord with voters. The "Morning in America" ad showcased the country's economic progress under the Reagan-Bush administration and appealed to voters' sense of optimism and hope for the future.The "Morning in America" Ad
In contrast, the Dukakis campaign released an ad attacking Bush's ties to special interests and lobbyists. The "Revolving Door" ad showed a revolving door with the names of different special interest groups while a voiceover accused Bush of being too close to these groups.The "Revolving Door" Ad
Another positive ad from the Dukakis campaign was the "Family" ad, which showcased Dukakis' family and his commitment to family values. This ad was used to soften Dukakis' image and appeal to voters' emotions.The "Family" Ad
The "Daisy" ad was a powerful and controversial ad used by the Dukakis campaign to attack Bush on his stance on nuclear weapons. The ad, which featured a little girl picking petals off a flower before a nuclear explosion, was seen as fear-mongering and was eventually pulled from television.The "Daisy" Ad
This ad from the Bush campaign used a simple but effective message. The "Hands" ad showed a pair of hands counting the number of jobs created under the Reagan-Bush administration, highlighting their economic success.The "Hands" Ad
One of the most memorable ads from the 1988 campaign was the "Harvard" ad, which was released by the Bush campaign to attack Dukakis' liberal policies. The ad featured a group of Harvard students saying they would vote for Bush because Dukakis was "too liberal."The "Harvard" Ad