The 1988 United States presidential election in North Carolina took place on November 8, 1988, and was part of the 1988 United States presidential election. Voters chose 13 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
North Carolina voted for the Vice President George H. W. Bush, running with U.S Senator Dan Quayle, against Governor Michael Dukakis, running with U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen.
Background
With the exception of Jimmy Carter's victory in North Carolina in 1976, the state had voted for the Republican presidential nominee in every election since 1968. Republican membership in the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina peaked in elections held concurrently with the presidential elections and shrank in the following midterms. Jesse Helms's victory in the 1972 senatorial election made him the state's first Republican senator in the 20th century and John Porter East was elected to the state's other seat in 1980, but lost in the 1986 election. Republican identification among voters in the state rose from 27% to 37% between 1968 and 1986 while identification among Democrats fell from 68% to 58%.
Campaign
Primaries
Al Gore won 51% of the white vote while Dukakis won 30%. The racial composition of the Democratic primary was 71% white and 29% black, and 36% of white voters participated in the Republican primary.
General
North Carolina was one of the southern states that Michael Dukakis's campaign viewed as winnable. The North Carolina Democratic Party used $500,000 from the national party to hire over 100 workers and organize phone banks in every county, which contacted over 200,000 households. The North Carolina Republican Party received $700,000 from the national party, but only hired ten workers and instead used the money to conduct polling and hire mailing organizations.
George H. W. Bush campaigned in the state three times, and Dan Quayle, Dukakis, and Lloyd Bentsen each came twice. Among white voters, 68% supported Bush while 32% supported Dukakis.
Results
Results by congressional district
Bush carried 10 of the 11 congressional districts, including seven held by Democrats.
Analysis
Voter demographics
Source: NBC exit poll (2,516 surveyed) and CBS News exit poll (1,503 surveyed)