Dukakis Admits Toll of Campaign Was Unexpected

Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, in his final State of the State speech, said that he had not anticipated the damage his presidential campaign would wreak on Massachusetts and his family.

Dukakis said he was “swept up by the excitement and euphoria” of what he called the “Massachusetts Miracle” when he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“But a funny thing happened on the road to the White House. I ran a great campaign for the nomination, and a lousy one for the final,” Dukakis said in the Tuesday night address. “I lost, and in the process Massachusetts took an unfair beating. And I feel terrible about it.”

Dukakis, 56, said he underestimated the demands of running for the presidency and managing state affairs.

“It’s clear to me now that I underestimated the amount of time and energy it takes to seek the modern presidency. Trying to do two jobs at the same time was more difficult and more grueling than I expected,” he said. “And I underestimated the toll it would take on my family, too.”

His wife, Kitty, entered an alcoholism treatment program shortly after his defeat.