CAMPAIGN ’88 : Southern Spoken Here
The Democratic theme of the week may have been defense, but the word of the week for vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen was “Southern.”
“I’m proud to be a Southern Democrat,” Bentsen said again and again as he campaigned in Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida.
And at every stop he repeated a tribute from Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn, who said: “Lloyd Bentsen speaks three languages. He speaks Spanish, he speaks English and he speaks Southern.”
This was a tour through Bentsen country, from his family home in McAllen, Tex., to the steamy Gulf Coast town of Panama City, Fla. He was working hard to transfer the adulation he received to his running mate, Michael S. Dukakis.
And repeatedly he resorted to his conservative credentials to provide the forceful testimonial that campaign aides believe Dukakis needs in a skeptical South.
“Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen are willing to pay the price to defend freedom and extend its borders,” Bentsen said.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
