Editing Alexander Haig (section)

==1988 Republican presidential primaries==
{{Main|1988 Republican Party presidential primaries}}
Haig ran unsuccessfully for the [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 1988|1988 Republican Party presidential nomination]]. Although he enjoyed relatively high name recognition, Haig never broke out of single digits in national public opinion polls. He was a fierce critic of then–Vice President [[George H. W. Bush]], often doubting Bush's leadership abilities, questioning his role in the [[Iran–Contra affair]], and using the word "wimp" in relation to Bush in an October 1987 debate in [[Texas]].<ref name="nytimes_oldwarrior">{{cite news|last1=Dowd|first1=Maureen|title=Haig, the Old Warrior, in New Battles|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/21/us/haig-the-old-warrior-in-new-battles.html|access-date=26 May 2015|work=The New York Times|date=21 November 1987}}</ref> Despite extensive personal campaigning and paid advertising in [[New Hampshire]], Haig remained stuck in last place in the polls. After finishing with less than 1 percent of the vote in the [[Iowa caucuses]] and trailing badly in the [[New Hampshire presidential primary|New Hampshire primary]] polls, Haig withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Senator [[Bob Dole]].<ref name="latimes1_1988">{{cite news|title=Haig Calls Meeting to Discuss Campaign|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-12-mn-28574-story.html|access-date=26 May 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=12 February 1988}}</ref><ref name="latimes2_1988">{{cite news|last1=Clifford|first1=Frank|title=Haig Drops Out of GOP Race, Endorses Dole|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-13-mn-10855-story.html|access-date=26 May 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=13 Feb 1988}}</ref>  Dole, steadily gaining on Bush after beating him handily a week earlier in the [[Iowa caucus]], ended up losing to Bush in the New Hampshire primary by 10 percentage points. With his momentum regained, Bush easily won the nomination.