Short Answer 
The Bush campaign in the 1988 presidential election strategically focused on the Pledge of Allegiance to portray Michael Dukakis as unpatriotic due to his veto of a related law. They exaggerated his actions to create distrust among voters and solidified a stereotype of liberal disconnection from patriotism, effectively rallying conservative support for Bush.
Step 1: Understanding the Campaign Strategy
During the 1988 presidential election, the Bush campaign devised a strategy that revolved around the Pledge of Allegiance. The aim was to cast doubt on Michael Dukakis’s patriotism by emphasizing his veto of a Massachusetts law mandating the recitation of the pledge in schools. This strategy was designed to connect with voters’ deep emotional ties to national symbols.
Step 2: Exaggeration of Dukakis’s Actions
The Bush campaign exaggerated Dukakis’s opposition to the pledge, framing it as unpatriotic behavior. By doing so, they sought to pin him down as someone who did not respect American traditions. This tactic intended to invoke a sense of distrust among voters regarding Dukakis’s commitment to conservative values and patriotism.
Step 3: Influencing Voter Perception
Ultimately, the campaign leveraged the negative portrayal of Dukakis to influence public perception. By associating him with the idea of Eastern liberal elitism, the campaign aimed to solidify a stereotype that liberals were disconnected from patriotic sentiments. This approach was effective in rallying conservative voters around Bush by appealing to their emotional connections with national identity.