Archive: Michael Dukakis

Veteran CBS News White House Correspondent Bill Plante brings a top political expert into the Smoke-Filled Room each week to answer your questions. Joining him today is 1988 Democratic presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis in a special convention edition of the SFR to answer your questions.

Plante: Apparently the Gore-Lieberman ticket is not getting the usual “bounce” in the polls during this convention. Karen would like to know “Do you think this bodes doom for the Democrats hope of holding on to the White House?”

Dukakis: These poll numbers are absolutely meaningless, and nobody knows it more than a guy allegedly 17 points ahead, coming out of my convention. In my opinion, it’s about 35 to 35 with 30 percent undecided and maybe more. People are going to be really focusing on this race until September or October. So I’m not really interested in the poll numbers.

I do know this convention is doing well. Lieberman was terrific last night. I think the Vice President is going to be terrific tonight. What’s really important is what happens in September and October.

Plante: Our next viewer Tom writes, “There is a small but growing backlash to the idea of Lieberman being on the ticket. Some say it’s his being Jewish will hurt in dealing with foreign policy, others say he’s too conservative – with lots of ideas that conflict with Gore, and still others say he’s too stiff – like Gore. Your thoughts on what Lieberman brings to the table.”

Dukakis: I don’t sense any backlash at all. I think this is a very popular selection. It says a lot about Al Gore – his willingness to make a tough and gutsy and very good decision. Joe Lieberman last night was terrific. I think the convention absolutely embraced him. I think you’re going to see members of the party coming out of this convention very enthusiastic about him and the ticket. He’s a real asset. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a very thoughtful, very well-grounded guy. It’s a plus to have him on the ticket.

Plante: Twelve years ago you beat Al Gore in the presidential campaign. What were his weak spots? How have they changed? Josie is curious.

Dukakis: He’s a different guy today. I don’t mean he’s fundamentally different. He was always a very good senator, and by the way, his father was a very good senator. These are both very fine public servants. But he was younger then. I think he was around thirty-seven or thirty-eight. He’s matured. He’s grown. Being Vice President for eight years, obviously, is an enormous plus. He’s had the experience of being about as close to the Presidency as you can get. I think his understanding of biissues has deepened. He’s what you’d expect somebody to be, who’s now had twelve years of additional experience in public life, eight of which happens to be in the White House.

Plante: “Sen. Lieberman attacked the Republicans in his nomination acceptance speech”, notes Rob. S. He asks, “ Will this be his job during the campaign – to make charges against the competition, and allowing Al Gore to keep his promise of ‘no negative campaigning’?”

Where there's smoke, is there fire? Sound off on the Campaign 2000 bulletin board!

Dukakis: There’s a difference between the kind of attack campaigning that Bush’s father did on me in ’88 and laying out your differences on the issues. I would expect Bush and Cheney to do that, and I would expect Gore and Lieberman to do that. In doing so, obviously you’re going to tell people why you feel strongly about social security, Medicare or prescription drugs for older people or guaranteed health insurance for kids, all of which Gore and Lieberman believe in and why they disagree strongly with what Bush and Cheney are advocating. There’s nothing wrong with that. And if you don’t have that, then what’s the point of a campaign? I would expect that both tickets are going to lay out their differences and the American people are going to have to decide which one of these two teams they want to support.

Plante: What role, if any, should President Clinton play in this campaign?

Dukakis: Whatever one thinks of Clinton’s personal conduct, there’s no question the vast majority of the American people think he’s done a good job as President. I would hope he would be out their campaigning for the Gore-Lieberman ticket, especially in those states that are crucial, where people like him – and the job that he’s done.

Obviously, he can.t be the candidate. And we all know that. But, President Reagan campaigned for Bush in 1988 and I would expect Clinton to be out campaigning for Al Gore.

Plante: Donna says, “You’ve been in Al Gore’s shoes. What advice would you give him?”

Dukakis: I’m the last guy to give advice to anybody running for the presidency, because if I knew anything about it, I’d be talking to you in another capacity.

I think what he has to do tonight is to build on what Joe Lieberman did last night. That is, to outline – very clearly – the fundamental differences between the Democratic and Republican tickets and platforms. Lieberman did that well last night. I think the Vice President will do it, and in many ways do it even better and more broadly tonight. If they do that tonight, and continue to do it consistently over the course of the next two-and-a-half months, they’re going to be the next President and Vice President of the United States.