Top 5 Most Memorable Presidential Debate Moments

Debate

4. Dukakis Misses the Mark


In the 1988 election, Vice President George H.W. Bush ran against Michael Dukakis. Dukakis, a staunch opponent of the death penalty, was asked in the October 13 debate if he would support the death penalty if someone raped and murdered his wife. He responded as such: “No, I don’t, Bernard, and I think you know that I’ve opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don’t see any evidence that it’s a deterrent and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime.” Although most were not surprised at his opposition, many were taken aback by how casually he replied to such a shocking question. His numbers dropped 7% that night alone, leading many to believe that his answer crushed his campaign.

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