Presidential Elections 1988 Missouri

For cynics who see politics as a triumph of symbol over substance, there was fodder galore Monday night as Bob Dole capped the Super Tuesday phase of his quest for the Republican presidential nomination with a big rally here. That Dole felt compelled to wrap up things in this Missouri metropolis, barely a wheat stalk away from his native Kansas, said more about his limping campaign effort than any of the encouraging words he spoke to fire up dispirited backers.

Missouri's Gov. John Ashcroft and Sen. John Danforth rolled over their Democratic rivals to easily win reelection, while George Bush edged Democrat Michael S. Dukakis in this traditionally Democratic state, adding Missouri's 11 electoral votes to his margin of victory. With 42% of the votes counted, Danforth won a third term with 314,129 votes or 64% and state Sen. Jay Nixon had 175,756 votes or 36%.

Missouri's Gov. John Ashcroft and Sen. John Danforth rolled over their Democratic rivals to easily win reelection, while George Bush edged Democrat Michael S. Dukakis in this traditionally Democratic state, adding Missouri's 11 electoral votes to his margin of victory. With 42% of the votes counted, Danforth won a third term with 314,129 votes or 64% and state Sen. Jay Nixon had 175,756 votes or 36%.

For cynics who see politics as a triumph of symbol over substance, there was fodder galore Monday night as Bob Dole capped the Super Tuesday phase of his quest for the Republican presidential nomination with a big rally here. That Dole felt compelled to wrap up things in this Missouri metropolis, barely a wheat stalk away from his native Kansas, said more about his limping campaign effort than any of the encouraging words he spoke to fire up dispirited backers.