Why did Ted Kennedy challenge Carter in 1980?

[© tweed]

In December of 1979, Reagan was not the front runner.

Nope!

In fact, a poll in January 1980 showed Carter waaaaaay up on Reagan, by about 30 points.

[© tweed]

In December of 1979, Reagan was not the front runner.

Nope!

In fact, a poll in January 1980 showed Carter waaaaaay up on Reagan, by about 30 points.

I believe Carter was ahead for most of the campaign. That's where "October Surprise" comes from- Reagan's surge ahead a month before the election.

I'm not sure that's true, Tchash.

Gallup seems to think that it is.



Carter was up 8 at the dawn of October!

[© tweed]

You weren't exactly correct...

You said it tightened after Labor Day, but the graph seems to think that it was tight ON Labor Day, then Carter built up a small leadd, escalated it to a big lead, and then just fell off a table on the final week or so.

Gallup underestimated Reagan in their final survey.  Did they do this for the whole race?  Who knows, and if they did it lends credence to your memories.  But a race going from tied to down eight in a period of about a month isn't exactly the definition of 'tightening.'

Unless, of course, you meant to say Columbus Day instead of Labor Day.

[© tweed]

In December of 1979, Reagan was not the front runner.

Nope!

In fact, a poll in January 1980 showed Carter waaaaaay up on Reagan, by about 30 points.

Good thing for Reagan that someone got the hostage release delayed until Reagan's inaugration day.

LOL Where do you get this stuff from?

That theory has been out there for a while, and makes sense to a certain degree.  But I tend to believe that the RNC didn't make a deal with Iran, but rather Khomeni held out from releasing the hostages until Jan 20 just to spite Carter.