In what place did Michael Dukakis finish in the 1988 Iowa Democratic caucuses?

a) First

b) Second

c) Third

d) Fourth

Answer: c) Dukakis, then governor of Massachusetts, finished the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses in third place with 22 percent, trailing Missouri Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (31 percent) and Illinois Sen. Paul Simon (27 percent). But the Dukakis camp was able to spin that as a strong performance since he was far from his New England home turf and competing with candidates from states that neighbor Iowa.

Dukakis’ ensuing win in the New Hampshire primary sealed his status as a serious contender, and he went on to win the nomination — though he would lose the general election to the incumbent vice president, Republican George Bush.