The last time Republicans dealt with the passing-of-the-torch question, in 1988, the circumstances were very different. President Ronald Reagan was surging in popularity, and the big fear was that he would overshadow the nominee, the first George Bush, at the convention in New Orleans. So their aides worked out a plan intended to let Mr. Reagan “give oomph to the Bush candidacy,” without stealing the show, said Kenneth W. Duberstein, Mr. Reagan’s chief of staff.
The 1988 GOP convention was held on August 15. Reagan job approval during 1988:
Job Performance Ratings for President Reagan
Start Date: 01/30/1981
End Date: 12/27/1988
Date Organization Approve Disapprove
Opinion
SizeNotes 12/27-29/88 Gallup 63 29 8 11/11-14/88 Gallup 57 35 8 10/21-24/88 Gallup 51 38 11 9/25-10/1/88 Gallup 54 37 9 8/19-22/88 Gallup 53 37 10 7/15-18/88 Gallup 54 36 10 7/1-7/88 Gallup 51 35 14 6/24-27/88 Gallup 48 40 12 6/10-13/88 Gallup 51 39 10 5/13-22/88 Gallup 48 43 9 3021 5/13-15/88 Gallup 50 38 12 4/8-11/88 Gallup 50 39 11 3/8-12/88 Gallup 51 37 12 3/4-7/88 Gallup 50 42 8 1/22-25/88 Gallup 49 40 11 2061 1/8-17/88 Gallup 50 41 9 2109