The emphasis on culture wars in the 1988 elections contributed to the rise of polarization because it made crime a racial factor.
<h3>How did the 1988 elections lead to polarization?</h3>
George Bush Snr. broadcast ads of Willie Horton who was a convicted killer and basically scared people into voting for him with promises of being tough on crime.
This polarized the nation as many people associated violent crime with African Americans.
